## Activity: Working with Representations on the Ring

Central Forces 2022 (2 years)

The following are 2 different representations for the same state on a quantum ring \begin{align} \left|{\Phi}\right\rangle = \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}\left|{2}\right\rangle -\sqrt{\frac{1}{4}}\left|{0}\right\rangle +i\sqrt{\frac{1}{4}}\left|{-2}\right\rangle \end{align} $$\Phi(\phi) \doteq \sqrt{\frac{1}{8 \pi r_0}} \left(\sqrt{2}e^{i 2 \phi} -1 + ie^{-i 2 \phi} \right)$$

1. Write down the matrix representation for the same state.

2. With all 3 representations, calculate the probability that a measurement of $L_z$ will yield $0\hbar$, $-2\hbar$, $2\hbar$.

3. If you measured the $z$-component of angular momentum to be $2\hbar$, what would the state of the particle be immediately after the measurement is made?

4. What is the probability that a measurement of energy, $E$, will yield $0\frac{\hbar^2}{I}$?,$2\frac{\hbar^2}{I}$?,$4\frac{\hbar^2}{I}$?

5. If you measured the energy of the state to be $2\frac{\hbar^2}{I}$, what would the state of the particle be immediately after the measurement is made?

• group Wavefunctions on a Quantum Ring

group Small Group Activity

30 min.

##### Wavefunctions on a Quantum Ring
Central Forces 2022
• assignment Working with Representations on the Ring

assignment Homework

##### Working with Representations on the Ring
Central Forces 2022 (2 years)

The following are 3 different representations for the $\textbf{same}$ state on a quantum ring for $r_0=1$ $$\left|{\Phi_a}\right\rangle = i\sqrt{\frac{ 2}{12}}\left|{3}\right\rangle - \sqrt{\frac{ 1}{12}}\left|{1}\right\rangle +\sqrt{\frac{ 3}{12}}e^{i\frac{\pi}{4}}\left|{0}\right\rangle -i\sqrt{\frac{ 2}{ 12}}\left|{-1}\right\rangle +\sqrt{\frac{ 4}{12}}\left|{-3}\right\rangle$$ $$\left| \Phi_b\right\rangle \doteq \left( \begin{matrix} \vdots \\ i\sqrt{\frac{ 2}{12}}\\ 0 \\ -\sqrt{\frac{ 1}{12}} \\ \sqrt{\frac{ 3}{12}}e^{i\frac{\pi}{4}} \\ -i\sqrt{\frac{ 2}{12}}\\ 0 \\ \sqrt{\frac{4}{12} }\\ \vdots \end{matrix}\right) \begin{matrix} \leftarrow m=0 \end{matrix}$$ $$\Phi_c(\phi) \doteq \sqrt{\frac{1}{24 \pi}} \left( i\sqrt{2}e^{i 3 \phi} -e^{i\phi} +\sqrt{3}e^{i\frac{\pi}{4}} -i \sqrt{2} e^{-i\phi} + \sqrt{4}e^{-i 3 \phi} \right)$$

1. With each representation of the state given above, explicitly calculate the probability that $L_z=-1\hbar$. Then, calculate all other non-zero probabilities for values of $L_z$ with a method/representation of your choice.
2. Explain how you could be sure you calculated all of the non-zero probabilities.
3. If you measured the $z$-component of angular momentum to be $3\hbar$, what would the state of the particle be immediately after the measurement is made?
4. With each representation of the state given above, explicitly calculate the probability that $E=\frac{9}{2}\frac{\hbar^2}{I}$. Then, calculate all other non-zero probabilities for values of $E$ with a method of your choice.
5. If you measured the energy of the state to be $\frac{9}{2}\frac{\hbar^2}{I}$, what would the state of the particle be immediately after the measurement is made?

• group Energy and Angular Momentum for a Quantum Particle on a Ring

group Small Group Activity

30 min.

##### Energy and Angular Momentum for a Quantum Particle on a Ring

Quantum Ring Sequence

Students calculate probabilities for a particle on a ring using three different notations: Dirac bra-ket, matrix, and wave function. After calculating the angular momentum and energy measurement probabilities, students compare their calculation methods for notation.
• assignment Ring Function

assignment Homework

##### Ring Function
Central Forces 2022 (2 years) Consider the normalized wavefunction $\Phi\left(\phi\right)$ for a quantum mechanical particle of mass $\mu$ constrained to move on a circle of radius $r_0$, given by: $$\Phi\left(\phi\right)= \frac{N}{2+\cos(3\phi)}$$ where $N$ is the normalization constant.
1. Find $N$.

2. Plot this wave function.
3. Plot the probability density.
4. Find the probability that if you measured $L_z$ you would get $3\hbar$.
5. What is the expectation value of $L_z$ in this state?
• assignment Frequency

assignment Homework

##### Frequency
Quantum Mechanics Time Evolution Spin Precession Expectation Value Bohr Frequency Quantum Fundamentals 2022 (2 years) Consider a two-state quantum system with a Hamiltonian $$\hat{H}\doteq \begin{pmatrix} E_1&0\\ 0&E_2 \end{pmatrix}$$ Another physical observable $M$ is described by the operator $$\hat{M}\doteq \begin{pmatrix} 0&c\\ c&0 \end{pmatrix}$$ where $c$ is real and positive. Let the initial state of the system be $\left|{\psi(0)}\right\rangle =\left|{m_1}\right\rangle$, where $\left|{m_1}\right\rangle$ is the eigenstate corresponding to the larger of the two possible eigenvalues of $\hat{M}$. What is the frequency of oscillation of the expectation value of $M$? This frequency is the Bohr frequency.
• group Raising and Lowering Operators for Spin

group Small Group Activity

60 min.

##### Raising and Lowering Operators for Spin
Central Forces 2022
• accessibility_new Spin 1/2 with Arms

accessibility_new Kinesthetic

10 min.

##### Spin 1/2 with Arms
Quantum Fundamentals 2022

Arms Sequence for Complex Numbers and Quantum States

Students, working in pairs, use their left arms to represent each component in a two-state quantum spin 1/2 system. Reinforces the idea that quantum states are complex valued vectors. Students make connections between Dirac, matrix, and Arms representation.
• assignment Phase

assignment Homework

##### Phase
Complex Numbers Rectangular Form Exponential Form Square of the Norm Overall Phase Quantum Fundamentals 2022 (2 years)
1. For each of the following complex numbers $z$, find $z^2$, $\vert z\vert^2$, and rewrite $z$ in exponential form, i.e. as a magnitude times a complex exponential phase:
• $z_1=i$,

• $z_2=2+2i$,
• $z_3=3-4i$.
2. In quantum mechanics, it turns out that the overall phase for a state does not have any physical significance. Therefore, you will need to become quick at rearranging the phase of various states. For each of the vectors listed below, rewrite the vector as an overall complex phase times a new vector whose first component is real and positive. $\left|D\right\rangle\doteq \begin{pmatrix} 7e^{i\frac{\pi}{6}}\\ 3e^{i\frac{\pi}{2}}\\ -1\\ \end{pmatrix}\\ \left|E\right\rangle\doteq \begin{pmatrix} i\\ 4\\ \end{pmatrix}\\ \left|F\right\rangle\doteq \begin{pmatrix} 2+2i\\ 3-4i\\ \end{pmatrix}$
• keyboard Kinetic energy

keyboard Computational Activity

120 min.

##### Kinetic energy
Computational Physics Lab II 2022 (2 years)

Students implement a finite-difference approximation for the kinetic energy operator as a matrix, and then use numpy to solve for eigenvalues and eigenstates, which they visualize.
• group Superposition States for a Particle on a Ring

group Small Group Activity

30 min.

##### Superposition States for a Particle on a Ring

Quantum Ring Sequence

Students calculate probabilities for a particle on a ring whose wavefunction is not easily separated into eigenstates by inspection. To find the energy, angular momentum, and position probabilities, students perform integrations with the wavefunction or decompose the wavefunction into a superposition of eigenfunctions.

Author Information
Dustin Treece and Corinne Manogue
Learning Outcomes