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10.E: Addition of Angular Momentum (Exercises)

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    15788
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    1. An electron in a hydrogen atom occupies the combined spin and position state \[R_{2,1}(r)\,\left[\sqrt{1/3}\,Y_{1,0}(\theta,\phi)\,\chi_+ + \sqrt{2/3}\,Y_{1,1}(\theta,\phi)\,\chi_-\right].\]
      1. What values would a measurement of \(L^2\) yield, and with what probabilities?
      2. Same for \(L_z\).
      3. Same for \(S^{\,2}\).
      4. Same for \(S_z\).
      5. Same for \(J^{\,2}\).
      6. Same for \(J_z\).
      7. What is the probability density for finding the electron at \(r\), \(\theta\), \(\phi\)?
      8. What is the probability density for finding the electron in the spin up state (with respect to the \(z\)-axis) at radius \(r\)?
    2. In a low energy neutron-proton system (with zero orbital angular momentum), the potential energy is given by \[V(r) = V_1(r) + V_2(r)\left[3\,\frac{(\sigma_1\cdot{\bf r})\,(\sigma_2\cdot {\bf r})}{r^2} -\sigma_1\cdot\sigma_2\right] + V_3(r)\,\sigma_1\cdot\sigma_2,\] where \(\sigma_1\) denotes the vector of the Pauli matrices of the neutron, and \(\sigma_2\) denotes the vector of the Pauli matrices of the proton. Calculate the potential energy for the neutron-proton system:
      1. In the spin singlet state.
      2. In the spin triplet state.
    3. Consider two electrons in a spin singlet state.
      1. If a measurement of the spin of one of the electrons shows that it is in the state with \(S_z=\hbar/2\), what is the probability that a measurement of the \(z\)-component of the spin of the other electron yields \(S_z=\hbar/2\)?
      2. If a measurement of the spin of one of the electrons shows that it is in the state with \(S_y=\hbar/2\), what is the probability that a measurement of the \(x\)-component of the spin of the other electron yields \(S_x=-\hbar/2\)?

      Finally, if electron 1 is in a spin state described by \(\cos\alpha_1\,\chi_+ + \sin\alpha_1\,{\rm e}^{\,{\rm i}\,\beta_1}\,\chi_-\), and electron 2 is in a spin state described by \(\cos\alpha_2\,\chi_+ + \sin\alpha_2\,{\rm e}^{\,{\rm i}\,\beta_2}\,\chi_-\), what is the probability that the two-electron spin state is a triplet state?

    Contributors and Attributions

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

      \( \newcommand {\ltapp} {\stackrel {_{\normalsize<}}{_{\normalsize \sim}}}\) \(\newcommand {\gtapp} {\stackrel {_{\normalsize>}}{_{\normalsize \sim}}}\) \(\newcommand {\btau}{\mbox{\boldmath$\tau$}}\) \(\newcommand {\bmu}{\mbox{\boldmath$\mu$}}\) \(\newcommand {\bsigma}{\mbox{\boldmath$\sigma$}}\) \(\newcommand {\bOmega}{\mbox{\boldmath$\Omega$}}\) \(\newcommand {\bomega}{\mbox{\boldmath$\omega$}}\) \(\newcommand {\bepsilon}{\mbox{\boldmath$\epsilon$}}\)

    This page titled 10.E: Addition of Angular Momentum (Exercises) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Richard Fitzpatrick.

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