Time independent perturbation theory

In summary, the forum post discusses the concept of magnetic susceptibility in a paramagnetic system and its relation to the Zeeman effect and the ground state energy. The expression for the susceptibility is also provided.
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Homework Statement



Assume that H0 describes a paramagnetic system that couples to a magnetic field via
the Zeeman effect, i.e. V = −μB, where μ is the magnetic moment. Note that for the
unperturbed paramagnetic system the probability of having an up-spin is equal to that for
a down-spin. Show that the magnetic susceptibility, defined as E = EGS −[itex]\frac{1}{2}\chi B^2[/itex], where
EGS is the ground state energy in the absence of field, is always non-negative. Write down
the expression for the susceptibility.
Note: A similar expression for a susceptibility is valid for an arbitrary perturbation. This
is known as the Lehmann representation applied to the linear response of the system to
the perturbation.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



i have no idea what's being asked here? is the perturbation −μB to a free particle hamiltonian?
 
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Hi there, thank you for your post. It seems that the forum post is discussing the concept of magnetic susceptibility in a paramagnetic system. The perturbation mentioned is the Zeeman effect, which describes the coupling between the magnetic field and the system's magnetic moment. The expression for the magnetic susceptibility is E = EGS - (1/2)χB^2, where EGS is the ground state energy in the absence of field and χ is the magnetic susceptibility. This expression shows that the energy of the system is dependent on the magnetic field, with a higher susceptibility leading to a larger energy change in response to the field. The Lehmann representation is a general mathematical tool used to analyze the linear response of a system to a perturbation, in this case the magnetic field. I hope this helps clarify the forum post for you. Let me know if you have any further questions.
 

FAQ: Time independent perturbation theory

1. What is time independent perturbation theory?

Time independent perturbation theory is a method used in quantum mechanics to approximate the energy levels and wavefunctions of a quantum system when a small perturbation is applied to the system. It allows us to find the new energy levels and wavefunctions without needing to solve the Schrödinger equation again.

2. How does time independent perturbation theory work?

This theory works by treating the perturbation as a small additional term in the Hamiltonian operator, which is used to describe the energy of a quantum system. The perturbed energy levels and wavefunctions are then found by solving the perturbed Hamiltonian using a series expansion known as the Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory.

3. When is time independent perturbation theory useful?

Time independent perturbation theory is useful in situations where a quantum system is subject to a small perturbation, such as an external electric or magnetic field, but the overall behavior of the system is still well-described by the unperturbed Hamiltonian. It is also useful when solving complicated quantum systems is not feasible, and an approximate solution is needed.

4. What are the limitations of time independent perturbation theory?

One limitation of this theory is that it only works for small perturbations. If the perturbation is too large, the higher order terms in the series expansion may become significant and the approximation breaks down. Additionally, time independent perturbation theory is only applicable to systems with discrete energy levels, and cannot be used for continuous spectra.

5. How does time independent perturbation theory relate to other perturbation methods?

Time independent perturbation theory is a special case of a more general perturbation theory known as time-dependent perturbation theory. In time-dependent perturbation theory, the perturbation is time-dependent and the system is allowed to evolve over time. Time independent perturbation theory can be derived from time-dependent perturbation theory by assuming that the perturbation is constant over time.

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