PHY302: Quantum mechanics
Tutorial-4
Instructor: Dr. Manabendra Nath Bera
17 September 2020
Question no.1 Basis independent quantities
Consider a vector space V and a change of basis from (v1 , v2 .....vn ) to (u1 , u2 ......un )
defined by linear operator A : vk → uk for k = 1, 2....n. The operator is clearly
invertible because, letting B : uk → vk , we have BA : vk → vk , showing that
BA = 1 and AB : uk → uk , showing that AB = 1. Thus B is the inverse of A.
(a) Consider the mapping equations
uk = Avk , and vk = Buk ,
and write them explicitly using the matrix representation of A in the v−basis
and the matrix representation of B in the u−basis. Show that these two matri-
ces are inverse of each other.
Consider now the linear operator T in V . Let Tij ({v}) denote its matrix repre-
sentation in the v basis and Tij ({u}) denote its matrix representation in the u
basis.
(b) Find a matrix relation between Tij ({v}) and Tij ({u}), written in terms
of the matrix representative of A and its inverse.
(c) Show that the trace of the matrix representation of T is basis indepen-
dent.
(d) Show that the determinant of the matrix representation of T is basis inde-
pendent.
Question no.2 Identities for commutators
In the following problem A,B and C are linear operators. So are q and p.
(a) Prove the following commutator identity:
[A, BC] = [A, B]C + B[A, C].
1
This is the derivation property of commutator: the commutator with A, that is
the object [A, ·] , acts like a derivative on product BC. In the result the commu-
tator is first taken with B and then taken with C while the operator that stays
untouched is positioned at expected place.
(b) Prove the Jacobi identity:
[[A, B], C] + [[B, C], A] + [[C, A], B] = 0.
(c) Using [q, p] = ih̄ and the result of (a), Show that
[q n , p] = ih̄nq n−1 .
(d) For any function f (q) that can be expanded in a power series in q, use (c)
to show
[f (q), p] = ih̄f 0 (q).
(e) On the space of position-dependent function, the operator f (x) acts multi-
∂
plicatively and p acts h̄i ∂x . Calculate [f (x), p] by letting this operator act on
an arbitrary wave-function.
Question no.3 Useful operator identities and translations Suppose
that A and B are two Operators that do not commute, [A, B] 6= 0.
(a) Let t be a formal variable. Show that
d (A+B)t
e = (A + B)e(A+B)t = e(A+B)t (A + B).
dt
(b) Now suppose [A, B] = c, where c is a c-number(a complex number times
the identity operator). Prove that
eA Be−A = B + c (1)
[Hint: Define an operator-valued function F (t) = eAt Be−At . What is F (0)?
Derive a differential equation for F (t) and integrate it.]
Comment: Equation (1) is a special case of the Hadamard lemma, to be con-
sidered below.
(c) Let a be real number and p̂ be the momentum operator. Show that the
unitary translation operator
T̂ (a) = e−iap̂/h̄
2
translate the position operator:
T̂ † (a)x̂ T̂ (a) = x̂ + a
If a state |ψi is described by the wave function hx|ψi = ψ(x), show that the
state T̂ (a) |ψi is described by the wave function ψ(x − a).
Question no.4 Bras and Kets.
Consider a three-dimensional Hilbert space with an orthonormal basis |1i , |2i , |3i .
Using complex constant a and b define the kets
|ψi = a |1i − b |2i + a |3i ; |φi = b |1i + a |2i .
(a) Write down hψ| and hφ|. Calculate hψ|φi and hφ|ψi. Check that
∗
hψ|φi = hφ|ψi
(b) Express |ψi and |φi as column vector in the |1i , |2i , |3i basis and repeat
(a).
(c) Let A = |φi hψ|. Find the 3 x 3 matrix that represents A in the given basis.
(d) Let Q = |ψi hψ| + |φi hφ|. Is Q hermitian ? Give a simple argument (no
computation) to show that Q has a zero eigenvalue.
Question no.5 Hermitian matrices and anticommutators
Consider Hermitian matrices M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 that obey
M i M j + M j M i = 2δ ij 1 i, j = 1, 2, 3, 4.
(a) Show that the eigevales of M i are ±1.(Hint: go to the eigenbasis of M i ,
and use the equation for i=j.)
(b) By considering the relation
M i M j = −M j M i f or i 6= j,
show that M i are trace less. [Hint: Tr(ABC)=Tr(BCA).]
(c) Show that they can not be odd-dimensional matrices.
