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# 5.E: Multi-Particle Systems (Exercises)


1. Consider a system consisting of two non-interacting particles, and three one-particle states, $$\psi_a(x)$$, $$\psi_b(x)$$, and $$\psi_c(x)$$. How many different two-particle states can be constructed if the particles are (a) distinguishable, (b) indistinguishable bosons, or (c) indistinguishable fermions?
2. Consider two non-interacting particles, each of mass $$m$$, in a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential of classical oscillation frequency $$\omega$$. If one particle is in the ground-state, and the other in the first excited state, calculate $$\langle (x_1-x_2)^{\,2}\rangle$$ assuming that the particles are (a) distinguishable, (b) indistinguishable bosons, or (c) indistinguishable fermions.
3. Two non-interacting particles, with the same mass $$m$$, are in a one-dimensional box of length $$a$$. What are the four lowest energies of the system? What are the degeneracies of these energies if the two particles are (a) distinguishable, (b) indistinguishable bosons, or (c) indistingishable fermions?
4. Two particles in a one-dimensional box of length $$a$$ occupy the $$n=4$$ and $$n'=3$$ states. Write the properly normalized wavefunctions if the particles are (a) distinguishable, (b) indistinguishable bosons, or (c) indistinguishable fermions.

## Contributors and Attributions

• Richard Fitzpatrick (Professor of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin)


This page titled 5.E: Multi-Particle Systems (Exercises) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Richard Fitzpatrick.

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