Determine the energy levels, their degeneracy and wave functions of a particle

[noospace]

Homework Statement

Determine the energy levels, their degeneracy and wave functions (in ket notation) of a particle with spin quantum number s =1 if the Hamiltonian is AS_x^2 + AS_y^2 + B S_z^2 where A and B are constants.

The Attempt at a Solution

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I've spent ages thinking about this but I keep finding that the Hamiltonian is (\hbar^2/4)(2A + B)I where I is the identity matrix. This is very strange since it implies that there are an infinite number of eigenstates with identically the same eigenvalue!

 

[malawi_glenn]

What matrices did you use for the S_x etc? Not the pauli matrices right? They are only valid for spin 1/2 partilces.

 

[Meir Achuz]

AS_x^2 + AS_y^2 + B S_z^2=AS^2+(B-A)S_z^2.
You know S^2. There are three values of S_z, and two of S_z^2.
You don't need to know any matrices.

 

[noospace]

Hi clem and malawi_glenn,

Thanks heaps for pointing out my mistake.