Two identical spin-zero bosons are placed in an infinite square well (Equation 2.19). They interact weakly with one another, via the potential

V(x1,x2)=-aV0δ(x1-x2). (2.19).

(where V0is a constant with the dimensions of energy, and a is the width of the well).

(a)First, ignoring the interaction between the particles, find the ground state and the first excited state—both the wave functions and the associated energies.

(b) Use first-order perturbation theory to estimate the effect of the particle– particle interaction on the energies of the ground state and the first excited state.

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) Ground state:

Ψ10(x1,x2)=Ψ1(x1)Ψ1(x2)=2asin(πx1a)sin(πx2a);E10=2E1=π2ħ2ma2

First excited state:

Ψ20(x1,x2)=12[Ψ1x1Ψ2x2+Ψ2x1Ψ1x2].=E20=E1+E2=52π2ħ2ma2

(b)-32V0π(3π8-5π16)=-2V0

Step by step solution

01

(a) Finding the ground state and the first excited state

In terms of the one-particle states (Eq. 2.28) and energies (Eq. 2.27):

Ψnx=2asinax (2.28).

En=ħ2kn22m=n2π2ħ22ma2 (2.27).

Ground state:Ψ10x1x2=Ψ1x1Ψ1x2=2asinπx1asinπx2a;E10=2E1=π2ħ2ma2

First excited state:Ψ20x1x2=12Ψ1x1Ψ2x2+Ψ2x1Ψ1x2

02

 Step2: (b) estimating the effect of the particle– particle interaction on the energies of the ground state and the first excited state

E11=Ψ10H'Ψ10=-aV02a20a0asin2πx1asin2πx2aδx1-x2dx1dx2=-4V0a0asin4πxadx=-4V0aaπ0πsin4ydy=-4V0π,3π8=-32V0E21=Ψ20H'Ψ20

=-aV02a20asinπx1asin2πx2a+sin2πx1asinπx2a2δx1-x2dx1dx2.=-2V0a0asinπxasin2πxa+sin2πxa+sin2πxasinπxa2dx=-8V0a0asinπxasin2πxadx=-8V0a.aπ0πsin2ysin22ydy=-8V0a.40πsin2ysin2ycos2ydy=-32V0π0π(sin4y-sin6y)dy-32V0π3π8-5π16=-2V0.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Consider a particle of mass m that is free to move in a one-dimensional region of length L that closes on itself (for instance, a bead that slides frictionlessly on a circular wire of circumference L, as inProblem 2.46).

(a) Show that the stationary states can be written in the formψn(x)=1Le2πinx/L,(-L/2<x<L/2),

wheren=0,±1,±2,....and the allowed energies areEn=2mnπL2.Notice that with the exception of the ground state (n = 0 ) – are all doubly degenerate.

(b) Now suppose we introduce the perturbation,H'=-V0e-x2/a2where aLa. (This puts a little “dimple” in the potential at x = 0, as though we bent the wire slightly to make a “trap”.) Find the first-order correction to En, using Equation 6.27. Hint: To evaluate the integrals, exploit the fact that aLato extend the limits from ±L/2to±after all, H′ is essentially zero outside -a<x<a.

E±1=12Waa+Wbb±Waa-Wbb2+4Wab2(6.27).

(c) What are the “good” linear combinations ofψnandψ-n, for this problem? Show that with these states you get the first-order correction using Equation 6.9.

En'=ψn0H'ψn0(6.9).

(d) Find a hermitian operator A that fits the requirements of the theorem, and show that the simultaneous Eigenstates ofH0and A are precisely the ones you used in (c).

Calculate the wavelength, in centimeters, of the photon emitted under a hyperfine transition in the ground state (n=1) of deuterium. Deuterium is "heavy" hydrogen, with an extra neutron in the nucleus; the proton and neutron bind together to form a deuteron, with spin 1 and magnetic moment

μdl=gde2mdSd

he deuteron g-factor is 1.71.

Estimate the correction to the ground state energy of hydrogen due to the finite size of the nucleus. Treat the proton as a uniformly charged spherical shell of radius b, so the potential energy of an electron inside the shell is constant:-e2/(4πϵ0b);this isn't very realistic, but it is the simplest model, and it will give us the right order of magnitude. Expand your result in powers of the small parameter, (b / a) whereis the Bohr radius, and keep only the leading term, so your final answer takes the form ΔEE=A(b/a)n. Your business is to determine the constant Aand the power n. Finally, put in b10-15m(roughly the radius of the proton) and work out the actual number. How does it compare with fine structure and hyperfine structure?

Work out the matrix elements of HZ'andHfs'construct the W matrix given in the text, for n = 2.

The Feynman-Hellmann theorem (Problem 6.32) can be used to determine the expectation values of1/rand1/r2for hydrogen.23The effective Hamiltonian for the radial wave functions is (Equation4.53)

22md2dr2+22ml(l+1)r2-e24π01r

And the eigenvalues (expressed in terms ofl)24are (Equation 4.70)

En=-me432π202h2jmax+l+12

(a) Use λ=ein the Feynman-Hellmann theorem to obtain 1/r. Check your result against Equation 6.55.

(b) Use λ=lto obtain 1/r2. Check your answer with Equation6.56.

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