Perturbed Hamiltonian and its affect on the eigenvalues

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pondzo
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Homework Statement



Printed exercise part (c): a 4x4 matrix E0 with entries 1, -2λ, 0, 0 / -2λ, 8, 0, 0 / 0, 0, 3+λ, 0 / 0, 0, 0, 7, labelled equation (2), followed by the instruction to use perturbation theory to second order in λ.


Homework Equations



$$E_n^{(2)}=\sum_{k\neq n}\frac{|H_{kn}'|^2}{E_n^{(0)}-e_k^{(0)}}$$

The Attempt at a Solution



Not sure where to start here. The question doesn't give any information about the unperturbed Hamiltonian. Some guidance on the direction would be great! Cheers.
 
Start by writing out ##H_T = H_0 + H'##, where ##H_T## is the total Hamiltonian, the matrix of which is given in the question, ##H_0## the unperturbed Hamiltonian whose elements do not contain ##\lambda##, and ##H'## the perturbation term which is proportional to ##\lambda##.
 
Hi blue_leaf! Thanks for that, I just realized that I interpreted the question wrong. I thought the matrix given was only the unperturbed Hamiltonian.

So I have separated it into its un/pertrubed matrices. I just don't think I understand what the question is asking, when it says the change in eigenvalues.

##E_1\approx E_1^{(0)}+E_1^{(1)}+E_1^{(2)}##
##~~~~~=E_0+0-\frac{4}{7}E_0\lambda^2##

##E_2\approx E_2^{(0)}+E_2^{(1)}+E_2^{(2)}##
##~~~~~=8E_0+0+\frac{4}{7}E_0\lambda^2##

##E_3\approx E_3^{(0)}+E_3^{(1)}+E_3^{(2)}##
##~~~~~=3E_0+E_0\lambda+0##

##E_4\approx E_4^{(0)}+E_4^{(1)}+E_4^{(2)}##
##~~~~~=7E_0+0+0##

So are the changes in the eigenvalues ##-\frac{4}{7}E_0\lambda^2,~\frac{4}{7}E_0\lambda^2,~E_0\lambda \text{ and } 0## respectively ?