In classical electrodynamics the force on a particle of charge q

moving with velocity through electric and magnetic fields E and B is given

by the Lorentz force law:F=q(E+v×B)

This force cannot be expressed as the gradient of a scalar potential energy

function, and therefore the Schrödinger equation in its original form (Equation 1.1)

cannot accommodate it. But in the more sophisticated form ihψt=Hψ

there is no problem; the classical Hamiltonian isH=12m(p-qA)2+where A

is the vector potential(B=×A)and ψis the scalar potential (E=-ψ-A/t),

so the Schrödinger

equation (making the canonical substitutionp(h/i))becomesihψt=[12mhi-qA2+]ψ

(a) Show that d<r>dt=1m<(p-qA)>

(b) As always (see Equation ) we identifyd<r>/dtwith<v>. Show that

md<v>dt=q<E>+q2m<(p×B-B×p)>-q2m<(A×B)>

(c) In particular, if the fields and are uniform over the volume of the wave packet,

show thatmd<v>dt=q(E+<V>×B)so the expectation value of (v)moves

according to the Lorentz force law, as we would expect from Ehrenfest's theorem.

Short Answer

Expert verified

a) Hence it is proved thatd<r>dt=1m<(p-qA)>.

b) Hence it is proved thatmd<v>dt=q<E>+q2m<(p×B-B×p)>-q2m<(A×B)>.

c) Hence it is proved that md<v>dt=q(E+<V>×B).

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Lorentz force.

Lorentz force is described as the result of electromagnetic fields combining magnetic and electric forces on a point charge.

02

Show that d<r>dt=1m<(p-qA)>

(a)

The following equation expresses the energy uncertainty principle.

ddt<r>=ihH,rrt=0

In the above expression, the Hamiltonianis expressed as follows:

H=12mp-qA2+=12mp-qAp-qA+=12mp2-qp.A+A.p+q2A2+

Using the given formula for Hamiltonian, obtain the commutator connection between Hamiltonian and position as follows:

H,x=12mp2,x-q2mp.A+A.p,x.................1

Obtain the commutator relationp2,xas follows:

p2,x=px2+py2+pz2,xpy2,x=pz2,x=0p2,x=px2,x

Obtain the momentum in x direction and position commutator relation.

px2,x=pxpx,x+px,xpx=px-ih+-ihpx.................2=2ihpx

Obtain the commutator relationlocalid="1656073559313" p.A,xas follows:

p.A,x=px,Ax+py,Ay+pzAz,x=pxAx,x=pxAx,x+px,xAx=-ihAX.......................3

Obtain the commutator relationas follows:

A.p,x=Ax,px+Ay,py+Azpz,x=Axpx,x=Axpx,x+Ax,xpx=-ihAX.......................4

Equations 2, 3, and 4should be substituted into equation and solve for

H,x

H,x=12m-2hpx-q2m-2hpx=-ihmpx+ihqAxm=-ihmpx-qAx

The expression for H,ris derived by generalising the following equation.

H,r=ihmp-qA

Now from equationddtr=ihH,r

ddtr=ihH,r=ih-ihmp-qA=1mp-qA

03

Show thatmd<v>dt=q<E>+q2m<(p×B-B×p)>-q2m<(A×B)>

(b)

The following is the equation for the predicted value of velocity:

ddtr=vv=1mp-qA............5H=12mv2+

For the situation of $v$, use the energy uncertainty principle.

dvdt=ihH,v+vt............6

From equation 5,

vt=-qmAt..........7

Obtain the following expression for H,v:

H,v=12mv2+,v=m2v2,v+qϕ,v

The commutator relation of ϕ,vas follows:

ϕ,v=1mϕ,p

And the commutator relation ϕ,pxas follows:

ϕ,px=ihϕx

Generalizing, this gives

ϕ,p=ihϕϕ,p=ihϕ............8

Now solve for commutator v2,vxas follows:


v2,vx=vx2,vx+vy2,vx+vz2,vz=0+vy2,vx+vz2,vx=vyvy,vx+vy,vx=vyvy,vx+vy,vxvy,vzvz,vx+vz,vxvz

Now use equationto (5) obtain the expression of vy,vx:

vy,vx=1mpy-qAy,1mpx-qAx=1m2py,px-py,qAx-qAy,px+q2Ay,Ax=1m2-qpy,Ax+Ay,px=-qm2-hAxy+hAyx=-qm2hAyx-hAxy=-hqm2×AZ=-hqm2Bz

Obtain the commutator relation role="math" localid="1656133338816" vz,vxas follows:

vz,vx=1mpz-qAz,1mpx-qAx=1m2pz,px-qpz,Ax-qAz,px+q2Az,Ax=1m2-qpz,Ax+Az,px=-qm2hAxz+hAzx=-hqm2Axz-Axx=-hqm2-×Ay=-hqm2By

Obtain the commutator relation v2,vxas follows:

v2,vx=vy-hqm2BZ+-hqm2Bzvy+vz-hqm2By+-hqm2Byvz=-hqm2-vyBZ-BZvy+vzBy+Byvz=-hqm2-vyBZ-vZBy+ByvZ-Bzvy=-hqm2-v×Bx+B×vx

Now generalize the above equation to obtain the expression v2,vas follows:

v2,v=ihqm2B×v-v-B..........9

Now using equation(6),

dvdt=ihH,v+vt=ihm2v2,v+qϕ,v+vt

The above expression may be expressed as, using equations (7), (8), and (9).

dvdtihm2ihqm2B×v)-(v×B+qmihϕ+-qmAtmdvdtq2v×B-B×v-qϕ-qAt..................10mdvdtq2v×B-B×v+qEE=-ϕ-At

Now calculate v×B-B-vas follows:0

v×B-B-v=1mp-qA×B-B×P-qA=1mp×B-B×p-qmA×B-B×A

Using A×B=-B×Arewrite the above equation as follows:

mdvdtqE+q2mp×B-B×p-q2mA×B

04

Show thatmd<v>dt=q(E+<V>×B)

(c)

Use equation10,

md<v>dt=q2<(v×B-(B×v)>)+q<E>

Consider that<E>=Eand<v×B>=<v>×Band rewrite the above equation as follows:

mddt<v>=qE+<v>×B

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Use Equation 4.32 to construct Yll(θ,ϕ)andy32(θ.ϕ) . (You can take P32from Table 4.2, but you'll have to work outPll from Equations 4.27 and 4.28.) Check that they satisfy the angular equation (Equation 4.18), for the appropriate values of l and m .

An electron is in the spin state

χ=A3i4

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(d) Confirm that your results are consistent with all three uncertainty principles (Equation 4.100 and its cyclic permutations - only with in place ofL, of course).

In Problem4.3 you showed that Y21(θ,ϕ)=-15/8πsinθcosθeiϕ. Apply the raising operator to find localid="1656065252558" Y22(θ,ϕ). Use Equation 4.121to get the normalization.

(a) Prove the three-dimensional virial theorem

2T=rV

(for stationary states). Hint: Refer to problem 3.31,

(b) Apply the virial theorem to the case of hydrogen, and show that

T=-En;V=2En

(c) Apply the virial theorem to the three-dimensional harmonic oscillator and show that in this case

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(a) Show that the allowed energies of this rigid rotor are

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Hint: First express the (classical) energy in terms of the total angular momentum.

(b) What are the normalized Eigen functions for this system? What is the degeneracy of thenthenergy level?

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