Energy spectrum of charged particle

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a homework problem related to the energy spectrum of charged particles using specific operators. Participants suggest using perturbation theory, but it is clarified that this approach was not covered in class. Instead, a method involving completing the square in the Hamiltonian is recommended to solve the problem as a harmonic oscillator. The conversation highlights the potential for comparing perturbation theory results with exact solutions. Overall, the focus is on finding an effective approach to tackle the homework assignment efficiently.
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Homework Statement



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Homework Equations



a(+) = (-ip+mwx)/(2hmw)^1/2
a() = (+ip+mwx)/(2hmw)^1/2

The Attempt at a Solution



can i use these operators to solve this problem? please help me i need to give this homework tomorrow morning :confused:
 
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I imagine the method you should use will depend on the context of your lessons so far.
eg. I'd want to use perturbation theory. If you've just done some of that in class, then there's your approach.
 
thank you but we did not do perturbation theory. actually this is takehome and it can be further subject which we did not know. if it is about perturbation theory how can i start and how can i solve it? what is the way of it? i have 3-4 hour :)
 
How about completing the square in x in the Hamiltonian?
 
This problem can be solved exactly. Just complete the square first for x and solve the resulting harmonic oscillator problem using the transformation between {x,p} and {a, a'}.
 
What they said - if it were perturbation theory, it would say (somewhere) that the uniform field is "weak".
 
Simon Bridge said:
What they said - if it were perturbation theory, it would say (somewhere) that the uniform field is "weak".

This is actually a good problem for comparing the results of perturbation theory with an exact solution. I think I've seen it used that way.
 
thank you for your help. i will try now.
 
This is actually a good problem for comparing the results of perturbation theory with an exact solution. I think I've seen it used that way.
I know I've seen it this way. It's almost routine in some courses ... hence my knee-jerk reaction to check that was not the case this time.

Of course this means we could probably look up the solution...
 
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