QM Ring with Time Dependence

  • Central Forces 2021

    In this problem, you will carry out calculations on the following normalized abstract quantum state on a ring: \begin{equation} \left| \Psi\right\rangle = \sqrt\frac{ 1}{4} \left(\left| 1\right\rangle + \sqrt{2}\left| 2\right\rangle +\left| 3\right\rangle\right) \end{equation}

    1. You carry out a measurement to determine the energy of the particle at time \(t=0\). Calculate the probability that you measure the energy to be \(\frac{4 \hbar^2}{2 I}\).
    2. You carry out a measurement to determine the \(z\)-component of the angular momentum of the particle at time \(t=0\). Calculate the probability that you measure the \(z\)-component of the angular momentum to be \(3 \hbar\).
    3. You carry out a measurement on the location of the particle at time, \(t=0\). Calculate the probability that the particle can be found in the region \(0<\phi< \frac{\pi}{2}\).
    4. You carry out a measurement to determine the energy of the particle at time \(t = \frac{2 I}{\hbar} \frac{\pi}{4}\). Calculate the probability that you measure the energy to be \(\frac{4 \hbar^2}{2 I}\).
    5. You carry out a measurement to determine the \(z\)-component of the angular momentum of the particle at time \(t = \frac{2 I}{\hbar}\frac{\pi}{4}\). Calculate the probability that you measure the \(z\)-component of the angular momentum to be \(3 \hbar\).
    6. You carry out a measurement on the location of the particle at time \(t = \frac{2 I}{\hbar}\frac{\pi}{4}\). Calculate the probability that the particle can be found in the region \(0<\phi< \frac{\pi}{2}\).

    7. Write a short paragraph explaining what representation/basis you used for each of the calculations above and why you chose to use that representation/basis.
    8. In the calculations above, you should have found some of the quantities to be time dependent and others to be time independent. Briefly explain why this is so. That is, for a time dependent state like \(\left| \Psi(t)\right\rangle\) explain what makes some observables time dependent and others time independent.