Time independant perturbation - Difficulty understanding derivation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the derivation of time-independent perturbation theory in quantum mechanics, focusing on the expansion of eigenstates and eigenenergies in terms of a small parameter. Participants explore the normalization conditions and the implications of the inner product of states.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the Hamiltonian in the form ##H = H_0 + \lambda W## and expands the eigenstates and eigenenergies in a power series of ##\lambda##.
  • Another participant suggests equating the inner product ##\langle \phi(\lambda) | \phi(\lambda) \rangle## to 1 and analyzing the resulting terms to derive normalization conditions.
  • A participant expresses confusion about the requirement that the inner product ##\langle 0 \mid \psi \rangle## be a real number and seeks clarification on its significance.
  • There is a query regarding the treatment of complex conjugates in the inner product expansion and how to handle the terms involving ##\lambda^*##.
  • One participant assumes that ##\lambda## is real, noting its role as a dummy parameter that characterizes the strength of the perturbation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing levels of understanding regarding the normalization conditions and the implications of the inner product being real. The discussion remains unresolved as participants seek clarification on specific points without reaching consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the implications of the normalization conditions or the treatment of complex conjugates in the context of the perturbation expansion.

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Hamiltonian is in the form ##H = H_0 + \lambda W##, where ##\lambda \ll 1## and ##W## is the perturbation. Assume the eigenstates ##\mid \psi(\lambda) \rangle## and engenenergies ##E(\lambda)## can be expanded in a power series of ##\lambda##.
$$\mid \phi(\lambda) \rangle = \mid 0 \rangle + \lambda \mid 1 \rangle + \dots + \lambda^q \mid q \rangle$$
$$ E(\lambda) = \epsilon_0 + \lambda \epsilon_1 + \dots + \lambda^q \epsilon_q $$
Substituting into the Schrödinger equation,
$$(H_0 + \lambda W) \left[ \sum_{q=0}^\infty \lambda^q \mid q \rangle \right] = \left[ \sum_{r=0}^\infty \lambda^r \epsilon_r \right] \left[ \sum_{s=0}^\infty \lambda^s \mid s \rangle \right]$$
By equating coefficients of successive powers of ##\lambda##,
$$ H_0 \mid 0 \rangle = \epsilon_0 \mid 0 \rangle $$
$$ (H_0 - \epsilon_0 ) \mid 1 \rangle + ( W - \epsilon_1 ) \mid 0 \rangle = 0 $$
$$ (H_0 - \epsilon_0 ) \mid 2 \rangle + ( W - \epsilon_1 ) \mid 1 \rangle - \epsilon_2 \mid 0 \rangle = 0$$
For the nth order,
$$ (H_0 - \epsilon_0) \mid n \rangle + (W - \epsilon_1) \mid n-1 \rangle - \epsilon_2 \mid n-2 \rangle + \dots - \epsilon_n \mid 0 \rangle = 0$$
The next part is what I don't understand. The following is what it says.

Note that we are free to choose the norm and the phase of ##\mid \psi ( \lambda ) \rangle ##, so we require that ##\mid \psi ( \lambda ) \rangle ## is normalized and that its phase is such that the inner product ##\langle 0 \mid \psi (\lambda) \rangle## is a real number. This implies that,
$$\langle 0 \mid 0 \rangle = 1$$
$$\langle 0 \mid 1 \rangle = \langle 1 \mid 0 \rangle = 0$$
$$\langle 0 \mid 2 \rangle = \langle 2 \mid 0 \rangle = -\frac{1}{2} \langle 1 \mid 1 \rangle$$
For the nth order we obtain,
$$\langle 0 \mid n \rangle = \langle n \mid 0 \rangle = -\frac{1}{2} \left( \langle n-1 \mid 1 \rangle + \langle n-2 \mid 2 \rangle + \dots + \langle 2 \mid n-2 \rangle + \langle 1 \mid n-1 \rangle \right)$$
How is this obtained?
 
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Take the form you have, |φ(λ)> = |0> + λ|1> + ... Write out <φ(λ)|φ(λ)> = <0|0> + ... Set it equal to 1, and equate powers of λ. The λ0 term gives you 1 = <0|0>, the λ1 term gives you 0 = <0|1> + <1|0>, and so on.
 
Got it. Thanks.
 
OK. I still don't get it.

What does "We require ... its phase is such that the inner product ##\langle 0 \mid \psi \rangle## is a real number." mean? Why does ##\langle 0 \mid \psi \rangle## need to be a real number?

Also,
$$\langle \psi (\lambda) \mid = \langle 0 \mid + \lambda^* \langle 1 \mid + (\lambda^*)^2 \langle 2 \mid + \dots + (\lambda^*)^q \langle q \mid$$, right?

Then,
$$
\begin{eqnarray}
\langle \psi (\lambda) \mid \psi (\lambda) \rangle = 1 & = & \langle 0 \mid 0 \rangle + \lambda \langle 0 \mid 1 \rangle + \lambda^2 \langle 0 \mid 2 \rangle + \dots + \lambda^q \langle 0 \mid q \rangle\\
& & + \lambda^* \langle 1 \mid 0 \rangle + \lambda^* \lambda \langle 1 \mid 1 \rangle + \lambda^* \lambda^2 \langle 1 \mid 2 \rangle + \dots + \lambda^* \lambda^q \langle 1 \mid q \rangle\\
& & \vdots\\
& & + (\lambda^*)^q \langle q \mid 0 \rangle + (\lambda^*)^q \lambda \langle q \mid 1 \rangle + (\lambda^*)^q \lambda^2 \langle q \mid 2 \rangle + \dots + (\lambda^*)^q \lambda^q \langle q \mid q \rangle\\
\end{eqnarray}
$$
Is this correct? If it is, what do I do with all these ##\lambda^*##s?
 
I would assume that ##\lambda## is real; after all it is a dummy parameter that characterises the strength of the perturbation. In most calculations, ##\lambda## is set to 1 at the end - it is mainly used for keeping track of the orders only.
 

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