QM: Two coupled spins in a magnetic field

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the Hamiltonian for two coupled spins in a magnetic field, specifically focusing on how to express this Hamiltonian in a specific basis. The problem is situated within the context of quantum mechanics, particularly in the area of spin systems and their interactions in magnetic fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss how to represent the Hamiltonian in a 4x4 matrix form based on the given spin states. There are attempts to express the Hamiltonian in terms of its Cartesian components, and some participants question the validity of their expressions and the need for identity operators. Others suggest using ladder operators and evaluating the Hamiltonian's action on specific states.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various formulations of the Hamiltonian and questioning the correctness of their approaches. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of the two-spin basis and the treatment of the Hamiltonian term by term, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct formulation yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of expressing the Hamiltonian correctly while adhering to the constraints of quantum mechanics. There are indications of confusion regarding the representation of the Hamiltonian and the appropriate use of basis states.

barefeet
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Homework Statement


Consider two spins, L and R, in a magnetic field along the z-axis, i.e. B = (0, 0, B). The magnetic moments of the two spins are coupled to each other so that the total Hamiltonian reads
H = g\mu_B\mathbf{B}\cdot(\mathbf{S}_L + \mathbf{S}_R) + J \mathbf{S}_L\cdot \mathbf{S}_R

Write this Hamiltonian in the basis \mathbf{\{} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle, \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle, \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle, \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle \mathbf{\}}

Homework Equations



The equations for the Pauli spin matrices

The Attempt at a Solution


I know that generally you can write a matrix:
<br /> \newcommand{\unit}{1\!\!1}<br /> a\unit+ x \hat{\sigma_x} + y\hat{\sigma_y} + z\hat{\sigma_z} = <br /> \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> a + z &amp; x-iy \\<br /> x+iy &amp; a-z \end{array} \right)<br />

But other than that I don't know how to start especially with two particles.
 
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Write the Hamiltonian in cartesian components.
 
You have four states, so your Hamiltonian is going to be a 4x4 matrix. Start by examining what you get when you act on one of your states with your Hamiltonian. Use the result to write down part of the Hamiltonian.
 
You mean like
<br /> H_x = J\mathbf{S}_{L,x} \mathbf{S}_{R,x} \\<br /> H_y = J\mathbf{S}_{L,y} \mathbf{S}_{R,y} \\<br /> H_z = B(\mathbf{S}_{L,z} + \mathbf{S}_{R,z}) + J\mathbf{S}_{L,z} \mathbf{S}_{R,z} <br />
?
 
No, this is not correct. The Hamiltonian is not a vector. He means that you should expand the scalar products in terms of the components of the vectors contained in them.
 
Write the Hamiltonian in cartesian spin components, indeed.
 
Ok, but then would it still be the same except that the hamiltonian is not a vector so just a summation of all the terms? Like:
<br /> H = J\mathbf{S}_{L,x} \mathbf{S}_{R,x} + J\mathbf{S}_{L,y} \mathbf{S}_{R,y} + B(\mathbf{S}_{L,z} + \mathbf{S}_{R,z}) + J\mathbf{S}_{L,z} \mathbf{S}_{R,z}<br />
Or is this also wrong?
As far as what you suggested, do you mean to evaluate something like H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle ?
Using H of what I worte above that would be:
<br /> H \mid \uparrow_L \uparrow_R \rangle =B \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 &amp; 0 \\ 0 &amp; -1 \end{array} \right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L <br /> + B \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 &amp; 0 \\ 0 &amp; -1 \end{array} \right)_R \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R \\<br /> + J \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 0 &amp; 1 \\ 1 &amp; 0 \end{array} \right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 0 &amp; 1 \\ 1 &amp; 0 \end{array} \right)_R\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 0 &amp; -i \\ i &amp; 0 \end{array} \right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 0 &amp; -i \\ i &amp; 0 \end{array} \right)_R\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 &amp; 0 \\ 0 &amp; -1 \end{array} \right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left( \begin{array}{ccc} 1 &amp; 0 \\ 0 &amp; -1 \end{array} \right)_R\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br />

This will be I think:
<br /> H \mid \uparrow_L \uparrow_R \rangle = \left(\begin{array}{c} B\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L + \left(\begin{array}{c} B\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J\left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ 1 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ 1 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J\left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ i \\\end{array}\right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ i \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br />

Or am I going completely off-track? And what should I do with it?
 
You are going a bit off track. You cannot have a state containing only one of the spins as your first terms do.
 
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Where do I go wrong? Is my expression for the Hamiltonian(first line) at least correct?
And am I missing an identity operator in the expressions and is B S_{L,z} actually B S_{L,z} 1\!\!1_R. But that wouldn't change much.
Then:
<br /> H \mid \uparrow_L \uparrow_R \rangle = \left(\begin{array}{c} B\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R + \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L\left(\begin{array}{c} B\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J\left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ 1 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ 1 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J\left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ i \\\end{array}\right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 0\\ i \\\end{array}\right)_R<br /> + J\left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_L \left(\begin{array}{c} 1\\ 0 \\\end{array}\right)_R<br />
 
  • #10
You must use two spin basis functions. Use the basis you mention in the question.
Treat the hamiltonian term by term.
What is B(Sz1+Sz2)|++> ?
 
  • #11
barefeet said:
You mean like
barefeet said:
<br /> H_x = J\mathbf{S}_{L,x} \mathbf{S}_{R,x} \\<br /> H_y = J\mathbf{S}_{L,y} \mathbf{S}_{R,y} \\<br /> H_z = B(\mathbf{S}_{L,z} + \mathbf{S}_{R,z}) + J\mathbf{S}_{L,z} \mathbf{S}_{R,z}<br />
?
If H_x etc are just names and not components of a vector as the notation suggests, this is ok.
Use ladder operators.
 
  • #12
Ah ok so I have to construct H as:
<br /> H = \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> \langle \uparrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \uparrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle &amp; \langle \uparrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \uparrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle\\<br /> \langle \uparrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \uparrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle &amp; \langle \uparrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \uparrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle\\ <br /> \langle \downarrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \downarrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle &amp; \langle \downarrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \downarrow \uparrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle\\ <br /> \langle \downarrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \downarrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle &amp; \langle \downarrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle &amp; \langle \downarrow \downarrow \mid H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle\\ <br /> \end{array} \right)<br />
Using the ladder operators S_x = \frac{1}{2}(S_+ + S_-) \quad S_y = \frac{1}{2i}(S_+ - S_-) and:
<br /> S_z \mid \uparrow \rangle = \frac{h}{2} \mid \uparrow \rangle \quad \quad S_z \mid \downarrow \rangle = \frac{-h}{2} \mid \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> S_+ \mid \uparrow \rangle = 0 \quad \quad S_+ \mid \downarrow \rangle = h \mid \uparrow \rangle \\<br /> S_- \mid \uparrow \rangle = h \mid \downarrow \rangle \quad \quad S_- \mid \downarrow \rangle = 0<br />

I get:
<br /> H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle = g\mu_BBh \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{2} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{2i} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle = 0 + \frac{-Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{2} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{-Jh^2}{2i} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle = 0 + \frac{-Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{2} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{-Jh^2}{2i} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle = g\mu_BBh \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{2} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{2i} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle<br />

This gives me the following matrix:
<br /> H = <br /> \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> g\mu_BB + \frac{Jh^2}{4} &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} + \frac{Jh^2}{2i} \\<br /> 0 &amp; \frac{-Jh^2}{4} &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} + \frac{-Jh^2}{2i} &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} + \frac{-Jh^2}{2i} &amp; \frac{-Jh^2}{4} &amp; 0\\<br /> \frac{Jh^2}{2} + \frac{Jh^2}{2i} &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; g\mu_BB + \frac{Jh^2}{4}<br /> \end{array} \right)<br />

This gets me in the right direction but is still wrong in the off diagonal terms.
 
  • #13
You are definitely getting closer.
Write S1xS2x+S1y+S2y in trems of S+ and S-.
What is (S1z+S2z)|--> ?
 
  • #14
The trace of all operators in your hamiltonian is zero,
so the trace of H should be zero. Check if it is.
 
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  • #15
Ah I see, I am missing a factor \frac{1}{2} in the S_x term and a \frac{1}{2i} in the S_y term
So it will be:
<br /> H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle = g\mu_BhBh \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle - \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle = 0 + \frac{-Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle = 0 + \frac{-Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle = - g\mu_BhBh \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle +\frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle - \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle<br />

Giving the matrix:
<br /> H =<br /> \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> g\mu_BhB + \frac{Jh^2}{4} &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 0 &amp; \frac{-Jh^2}{4} &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} &amp; \frac{-Jh^2}{4} &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; - g\mu_BhB + \frac{Jh^2}{4}<br /> \end{array} \right)<br />
 
Last edited:
  • #16
The matrix is close to the correct answer. The equations differ from it.
You should write S1xS2x+S1yS2y in terms of S1+ etc.
 
  • #17
Ok,
<br /> S_{x,L}S_{x,R} + S_{y,L}S_{y,R} = \frac{1}{2}(S_+ + S_-)_L\frac{1}{2}(S_+ + S_-)_R + \frac{1}{2i}(S_+ - S_-)_L\frac{1}{2i}(S_+ - S_-)_R \\<br /> =\frac{1}{2}(S_{+,L}S_{-,R} + S_{-,L}S_{+,R} ) <br />
But I still get the same answer. Whiech term exactly should I recheck?
 
  • #18
Are you sure about the final factor 1/2 ?
 
  • #19
I guess:
<br /> S_{x,L}S_{x,R} + S_{y,L}S_{y,R} = \frac{1}{2}(S_+ + S_-)_L\frac{1}{2}(S_+ + S_-)_R + \frac{1}{2i}(S_+ - S_-)_L\frac{1}{2i}(S_+ - S_-)_R \\<br /> = \frac{1}{4} ( S_+S_+ + S_+S_- + S_-S_+ + S_-S_- - S_+S_+ + S_+S_- + S_+S_- - S_-S_- )<br /> =\frac{1}{2}(S_{+,L}S_{-,R} + S_{-,L}S_{+,R})<br />
Or do you mean another 1/2 in the matrix?
 
  • #20
barefeet said:
Ah I see, I am missing a factor \frac{1}{2} in the S_x term and a \frac{1}{2i} in the S_y term
So it will be:
<br /> H \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle = g\mu_BhBh \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle - \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle = 0 + \frac{-Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle = 0 + \frac{-Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \uparrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \downarrow \rangle \\<br /> H \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle = - g\mu_BhBh \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle + \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \downarrow \downarrow \rangle +\frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle - \frac{Jh^2}{4} \mid \uparrow \uparrow \rangle<br />

Giving the matrix:
<br /> H =<br /> \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> g\mu_BhB + \frac{Jh^2}{4} &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 \\<br /> 0 &amp; \frac{-Jh^2}{4} &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; \frac{Jh^2}{2} &amp; \frac{-Jh^2}{4} &amp; 0\\<br /> 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 0 &amp; - g\mu_BhB + \frac{Jh^2}{4}<br /> \end{array} \right)<br />
This is correct.
 

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