Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applications · Problem 3.4

Postulates of Quantum Mechanics — Nouredine Zettili

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · expectation-values-energy-measurement

Problem

Consider a system whose state is given in terms of a complete and orthonormal set of five vectors ∣ϕ1⟩|\phi_1\rangle, ∣ϕ2⟩|\phi_2\rangle, ∣ϕ3⟩|\phi_3\rangle, ∣ϕ4⟩|\phi_4\rangle, ∣ϕ5⟩|\phi_5\rangle as follows: ∣ψ⟩=119∣ϕ1⟩+219∣ϕ2⟩+219∣ϕ3⟩+319∣ϕ4⟩+519∣ϕ5⟩|\psi\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{19}}|\phi_1\rangle + \frac{2}{\sqrt{19}}|\phi_2\rangle + \sqrt{\frac{2}{19}}|\phi_3\rangle + \sqrt{\frac{3}{19}}|\phi_4\rangle + \sqrt{\frac{5}{19}}|\phi_5\rangle where ∣ϕn⟩|\phi_n\rangle are eigenstates to the system's Hamiltonian, H^∣ϕn⟩=nε0∣ϕn⟩\hat{H}|\phi_n\rangle = n\varepsilon_0|\phi_n\rangle with n=1,2,3,4,5n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and where ε0\varepsilon_0 has the dimensions of energy. (a) If the energy is measured on a large number of identical systems that are all initially in the same state ∣ψ⟩|\psi\rangle, what values would one obtain and with what probabilities? (b) Find the average energy of one such system.

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