Hydrogen - perturbation theory question

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the application of perturbation theory to the hydrogen atom, specifically analyzing the Hamiltonian's terms and their implications. The Hamiltonian consists of kinetic energy (KE) and potential energy (PE) components, where n, l, and m represent quantum numbers for energy levels and angular momentum. Non-zero matrix elements are identified using electric dipole selection rules, with specific calculations for states |2,0,0> and |2,1,0>. The discussion concludes with the necessity of diagonalizing the perturbation Hamiltonian to find eigenstates of the perturbed system.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics and perturbation theory
  • Familiarity with the hydrogen atom's quantum numbers (n, l, m)
  • Knowledge of electric dipole selection rules
  • Experience with matrix mechanics and eigenvalue problems
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the Hamiltonian for the hydrogen atom
  • Learn about electric dipole transitions and selection rules in quantum mechanics
  • Explore the process of diagonalizing matrices in quantum systems
  • Investigate the implications of perturbation theory on degenerate states
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Students and professionals in quantum mechanics, particularly those focusing on atomic physics, perturbation theory, and the hydrogen atom's behavior under external perturbations.

unscientific
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Homework Statement



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Part (a): Explain origin of each term in Hamiltonian. What does n, l, m mean?

Part (b): Identify which matrix elements are non-zero

Part (c): Applying small perturbation, find non-zero matrix elements

Part (d): Find combinations of n=2 states and calculate change in energies. Sketch energies before and after perturbation.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Part (a)

First term is KE, second term is PE.

n: energy levels, l: eigenvalues of L2, m: eigenvalues of Lz.

For n =2, 0 ≤ l ≤ 1 and m ≤|l|.

Part (b)

Electric dipole selection rules:

##\Delta l = \pm 1## and ##\Delta m = 0, \pm 1## for l' and m'.

Thus non-zero elements are: ##<2,0,0|z|2,1,0>## and ##<2,1,0|z|2,0,0>##, ##<2,0,0|z|2,1,1>## and ##<2,1,1|z|2,0,0>## and finally ##<2,1,-1|z|2,0,0>##.

You can see that l' on the bra vectors differ by l in the ket by ##\pm1##.

Part(c)

The perturbation is ##eEz##.

I have found that ##<2,0,0|z|2,1,0> = <2,1,0|z|2,0,0> = -3a_z##.

But, the rest give zero values, simply by observing the factor in ##e^{i\phi} d\phi##.

&lt;2,0,0|z|2,1,1&gt; = \frac{1}{8a_z^4} \frac{-1}{\pi \sqrt{8}} \int_0^{\infty}r^4\left(1 - \frac{r}{2a_z}\right)e^{-\frac{r}{a_z}} dr \int_0^{\pi} sin^2 \theta cos \theta d\theta \int_0^{2\pi} e^{i\phi} d\phi

Which is zero since ##\int_0^{2\pi} e^{i\phi} d\phi = 0##.

Same with finding ##<2,1,-1|z|2,1,1>##.

Part(d)

What do they mean linear combination of n=2 states? By perturbation theory, the first order correction to perturbed state ##|E_2'> = |E_2> + \beta |b>##.

Then by comparing the powers of ##\beta## we get:

|b&gt; = eE \sum_{m\neq 2} \frac{&lt;E_m|z|E_2&gt;}{E_2 - E_m} |E_m&gt;
 
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You need to diagonalize the degenerate subspace. Note that the unperturbed energies among all n=2 states are the same, so there would be terms where the denominator of your last equation is zero!

This problem is solved by diagonalizing the perturbation within the degenerate subspace. You should work through it and see why this is.

Also for part (b), consider that $$[z, Lz] = 0 $$
thus
$$\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid [z, L_z] \mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle= 0 $$
$$\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid z L_z - L_z z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle= 0 $$
$$(m - m')\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle= 0 $$

What does this say about (m - m&#039;) and \langle n&#039;\,\ell&#039; m&#039; \mid z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle ?
 
MisterX said:
You need to diagonalize the degenerate subspace. Note that the unperturbed energies among all n=2 states are the same, so there would be terms where the denominator of your last equation is zero!

This problem is solved by diagonalizing the perturbation within the degenerate subspace. You should work through it and see why this is.

What do they mean by 'n=2' states? Do they mean states like |2,1,0>, |2,1,1>, |2,1,-1> and |2,0,0>? How do I know which diagonalizes perturbation hamiltonian? If any of the kets diagonalize the hamiltonian it means that it is an eigenket of the hamiltonian ##eEz##?

MisterX said:
Also for part (b), consider that $$[z, Lz] = 0 $$
thus
$$\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid [z, L_z] \mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle= 0 $$
$$\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid z L_z - L_z z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle= 0 $$
$$(m - m')\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle= 0 $$

What does this say about (m - m&#039;) and \langle n&#039;\,\ell&#039; m&#039; \mid z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle ?

It says that ##m = m'## or ##\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle = 0##.
 
unscientific said:
What do they mean by 'n=2' states? Do they mean states like |2,1,0>, |2,1,1>, |2,1,-1> and |2,0,0>? How do I know which diagonalizes perturbation hamiltonian? If any of the kets diagonalize the hamiltonian it means that it is an eigenket of the hamiltonian ##eEz##?
Yes, you are looking for four combinations of those four kets which are eigenkets of ##e\mathcal{E}z##.
unscientific said:
It says that ##m = m'## or ##\langle n'\,\ell' m' \mid z\mid n\,\ell\, m \rangle = 0##.
Yes, this is correct.
 
MisterX said:
Yes, you are looking for four combinations of those four kets which are eigenkets of ##e\mathcal{E}z##.


Yes, this is correct.

So ##\Delta l = \pm 1## but they must have the same values of m. So the only non-zero value is ##<2,1,0|z|2,0,0>##.

For part (d), how do I know which of the n=2 states are eigenkets of ##eEz##? I know that if anyone of the states are eigenkets, then a linear combination of them are also eigenkets. I guess I have to try out each one.

Suppose ##z|2,0,0> = \lambda|2,0,0>##: How do we show that this is right?
 
I suggest you utilize your answers for part (b)/part (c) to answer that question, and to solve part (d).
 
MisterX said:
I suggest you utilize your answers for part (b)/part (c) to answer that question, and to solve part (d).

Is the only non-zero element ##<2,1,0|2,0,0>## for part (b)?
 
bumpp
 
bumpp
 
  • #10
MisterX said:
Yes, you are looking for four combinations of those four kets which are eigenkets of ##e\mathcal{E}z##.

Yes, this is correct.

I think I got it. To diagonalize the perturbation Hamiltonian, we must find its eigenvalue equation. The elements of the eigenvector gives the amplitude of each of the original eigenbasis ##(\phi_{200},\phi_{211}, \phi_{210}, \phi_{21-1})## (defined in that order in the matrix)

It turns out that the only non-zero matrix elements in the Hamiltonian matrix are ##\langle\phi_{200}|z|\phi_{210}\rangle = \langle\phi_{210}|z|\phi_{200}\rangle = -3a_0##

Solving for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors, the states that were once degenerate but not any longer are:

|n=2,\pm\rangle = \frac{1}{2}\left(|\psi_{200}\rangle \mp |\psi_{210}\rangle\right)
 

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