Useful constants
h = 6.626 10−34 J sec (Planck Constant)
me = 9.110'−31 Kg (Mass of the electron)
e = −1.6 10−19 C (Charge of the electron)
m p = 1837 me (Mass of the proton/neutron)
c = 3 108 m / sec (Speed of light)
Instruction:
1) For objective questions (part A), please tick the correct option(s).
2) For subjective questions (part B), answer within the designated pages only.
3) There is total 7 numbers of objective questions, each of 2 marks
4) There is total 12 numbers of subjective questions each of 3 marks. The sub-
questions are grouped into 5 questions
5) This booklet is of 16 pages, and we shall evaluate anything that is written
within these 16 pages
6) Please use extra sheet for rough work/calculations. But we shall not
evaluate the extra sheets.
1
Part A: Objective type (Each question carries 2 marks)
1) According to Planck’s blackbody radiation formula, the intensity of the black body
𝐸5
radiation is given by 𝐼 (𝐸, 𝑇)~ 𝐸 for radiation energy E and temperature T. The
𝑒 𝑘𝑇 −1
maximum radiation intensity at a given β = 1/(kT ) will occur at radiation energy E within the
range:
(a) E ≤ 0.5/β (b) 0.5/β < E ≤ 1/β (c) 1/β < E ≤ 3/β (d) 4/β < E ≤ 6/β
1
𝛼𝑥2
𝜋 −4
2) Given that (x) = ( ) 𝑒− 2 . Value for 〈𝑥 𝑛 〉 for odd n will be
𝛼
𝛼
(a) 𝑛√2 (b) 1 (c) 0 (d) 𝛼 𝑛
3) Let 𝜓1 and 𝜓2 be two eigen states of the Hamiltonian H0 with energies E1 and E2
respectively. Let there be another Hamiltonian 𝐻1 such that 𝐻1 𝜓2 = 𝑎 𝜓1 and 𝐻1 𝜓1 = 𝑏 𝜓2 .
If 𝜓1 + 𝜓2 be the eigenstate of 𝐻0 + 𝐻1 , what will be the value of (a – b)?
(a) E2 − E1 (b) E1 − E2 (c) 0 (d) E1 + E2
4) For a thin positive lens, the focal lengths for RED, YELLOW, GREEN and BLUE are in
the following order:
(a) 𝑓𝑅𝐸𝐷 > 𝑓𝑌𝐸𝐿𝐿𝑂𝑊 > 𝑓𝐺𝑅𝐸𝐸𝑁 > 𝑓𝐵𝐿𝑈𝐸
(b) 𝑓𝑅𝐸𝐷 < 𝑓𝑌𝐸𝐿𝐿𝑂𝑊 < 𝑓𝐺𝑅𝐸𝐸𝑁 < 𝑓𝐵𝐿𝑈𝐸
(c) 𝑓𝑅𝐸𝐷 > 𝑓𝑌𝐸𝐿𝐿𝑂𝑊 < 𝑓𝐺𝑅𝐸𝐸𝑁 > 𝑓𝐵𝐿𝑈𝐸
(d) 𝑓𝑅𝐸𝐷 > 𝑓𝑌𝐸𝐿𝐿𝑂𝑊 > 𝑓𝐺𝑅𝐸𝐸𝑁 < 𝑓𝐵𝐿𝑈𝐸
5) Find the Compton wavelength of an electron in centimetres.
(a) 2.4×10−10 cm (b) 4.2×10−13 cm (c) 1.2×10−15 cm (d) 4.2×10−9 cm
2
6) Consider the fact that nuclear forces have the range of the order of r∼10−15 m. Based on
this fact only, find out the minimum possible kinetic energy of a nucleon
a) 3×10−12 J b) 3×10−13 J c) 7×10−14 J d) 7×10−11 J
7) For a Hermitian operator 𝐴̂, consider the following relation in QM
̂
ℎ 𝑑𝐴
𝑖 2𝜋 𝑑𝑡 = [𝐴̂, 𝐻
̂]
̂ is the Hamiltonian operator. Which of the
where [ ] denotes commutation relation and 𝐻
following is (are) correct statement(s)?:
(a) The relation is true only when 𝐴̂ has no explicit time dependence
(b) The relation is incorrect
(c) The relation applies to any 𝐴̂
̂ on the RHS
(d) It is incomplete, there are higher order terms in 𝐻
Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
number
Marks
3
Part B: Subjective type (Each subpart (that is a, b, etc.) contains 3 marks)
Answer all the questions in the designated places. Use rough page/extra page for
additional calculations
1
1a) The electric field for an electromagnetic wave in air is given by 𝐸⃗ = √4𝜋 (𝑖̂ −
𝑗̂) cos(𝜋 × 10−6 𝑧 − 300𝜋 𝑡) V/m, where 𝑧 is in metre and 𝑡 in second.
𝜇
What will be the average power (in Watt) per square metre carried by the wave? (4𝜋0 =
1
10−7 , = 9 × 109 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝐼 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑠)
4𝜋𝜖0
1b) What will be the polarizations of the waves described by the following electric
fields? If the polarization is circular or elliptical, mention its handedness (left or right), and if
it is linear mention the polarization angle with respect to x-axis.
𝐸0
(i) 𝐸⃗ = [𝑥̂ cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧) + 𝑦̂ sin(𝑘𝑧 − 𝜔𝑡)]
√2
𝜋 𝐸0 5𝜋
(ii) 𝐸⃗ = 𝐸0 𝑥̂ cos (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + 4 ) + 𝑦̂ cos (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + )
√3 4
𝐸0 𝐸0
(iii) 𝐸⃗ = 𝑥̂ cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧) − 𝑦̂ sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + 𝜋)
√2 √3
Answer
1a) The relation between electric field and magnetic field is given by
⃗ × 𝐸⃗ ,
⃗ = 𝑘
𝜔𝐵
As
1
𝐸⃗ = √ (𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂) cos(𝜋 × 10−6 𝑧 − 300𝜋 𝑡) V/m,
4𝜋
Then
10−6
⃗ =√1
𝐵 (𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂) cos(𝜋 × 10−6 𝑧 − 300𝜋 𝑡) V/m
4𝜋 300
Now
1 1 1 10−6
𝑆 = 𝜇 𝐸⃗ × 𝐵
⃗ = (𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂) × (𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂) cos2 (𝜋 × 10−6 𝑧 − 300𝜋 𝑡)
0 𝜇0 4𝜋 300
4
1
Averaging with respect to 𝑡, gives us (average of cos 2 𝜃 term is 2 and magnitude of vector
(𝑖̂ − 𝑗̂) × (𝑖̂ + 𝑗̂) is 2, hence
1 1
⟨𝑆⟩ = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡 = 2.1 × 10−4 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡
(4𝜋)2 30
1b)
𝐸0
⃗ =
(i) 𝐸 [𝑥̂ cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧) + 𝑦̂ sin(𝑘𝑧 − 𝜔𝑡)]
√2
𝐸0
𝐸𝑥 = cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧)
√2
And
𝐸0
𝐸𝑦 = − sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧),
√2
cyclic polarization, clockwise rotation.
𝜋 𝐸0 5𝜋
(ii) 𝐸⃗ = 𝐸0 𝑥̂ cos (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + 4 ) + 𝑦̂ cos (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + )
√3 4
2𝐸0 √3 1 𝜋
= ( 𝑥̂ − 𝑦̂) cos (𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + )
√3 2 2 4
If 𝜃 is the angle with the x-axis, then it can be written as cos 𝜃 𝑥̂ + sin 𝜃 𝑦̂.
Linear polarization with −30°
𝐸0 𝐸0
(iii) 𝐸⃗ = 𝑥̂ cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧) − 𝑦̂ sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧 + 𝜋)
√2 √3
𝐸0 𝐸0
= 𝑥̂ cos(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧) + 𝑦̂ sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑧)
√2 √3
Elliptic polarization, counter clockwise.
5
2a) A monochromatic beam of light passes through a narrow slit and the Fraunhofer
diffraction pattern is observed. By what factors do the (i) intensity of the center of the pattern
and (ii) the total energy transmitted change when the slit width is doubled.
2b) In a double-slit Fraunhoffer diffraction pattern on a screen kept at 100 cm away from the
slits of same widths, first order minimum was observed at an angle 10−3 radian with respect
to the central axis from the mid-point between the slits and perpendicular to the screen. It has
been found that interference fringe width is 0.2 mm. Find the ratio between individual slit
width (b) and the distance between mid-points of two slits (a).
Answer
sin2 𝛽 𝜋𝑏 sin 𝜃
2a) (𝑖) 𝐼(𝜃) = 𝐼0 , where 𝛽 = , at the centre 𝜃 = 0, and 𝐼0 is independent of 𝑏.
𝛽2 𝜆
(ii) Total intensity 𝐼 = ∫ 𝐼(𝜃) 𝑑𝜃, will be doubled.
2b) Here the individual slit width is 𝑏 and the distance between the mid-points of two slits is
𝑎 in a double-slit Fraunhoffer diffraction pattern.
Diffraction minima occur for 𝑏 sin 𝜃 = 𝑚 𝜆, here 𝑚 = 1, and sin 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃 = 10−3 , hence 𝑏 =
103 𝜆
𝐷
Slit width of the interference pattern is 𝛽 = 𝑎 𝜆. Here 𝛽 = 0.2 𝑚𝑚 and 𝐷 = 100 𝑐𝑚, hence
100
𝑎 = 0.02 𝜆 = 5000 𝜆.
Final answer 𝑏: 𝑎 = 1: 5
6
3a) In a double slit experiment, with 2 slits spaced 0.2 mm apart, and a screen at a distance of
1 m, the 3rd bright fringe is found to be displaced by 7.5 mm from the central fringe. Find the
wavelength of the light used.
3b) An unpolarized plane light wave of intensity 20 mW/cm2 passes through two polarizers
with pass-axis (or transmission axis) at 30o to each other. Calculate the intensity of the
transmitted light that passes through the 2nd polarizer in mW/cm2 unit.
Answer
𝐷
3a) Slit width of the interference pattern is 𝛽 = 𝑎 𝜆, here 𝑎 = 0.2 𝑚𝑚, 𝐷 = 1 𝑚, and 3𝛽 =
7.5 2.5
7.5 𝑚𝑚, hence 𝜆 = 3𝐷 𝑎 = 1000 0.2 𝑚𝑚 = 500 𝑛𝑚.
1
3b) Intensity after the first polarizer 𝐼1 = 2 𝐼0 , and after the second polarizer is 𝐼2 =
3
𝐼1 (cos 30° )^2 = 𝐼 = 7.5 𝑚𝑊/𝑐𝑚^2
8 0
7
4 For a quantum particle of mass m confined in an infinite potential well described by the
0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 < 𝑥 < 𝐿
potential 𝑉(𝑥) = { }
∞ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
The steady state eigen wavefunctions are given by
2 𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = √ sin , 𝑛 = 1, 2, 3, …
𝐿 𝐿
Now answer the following questions (4a, 4b, and 4c):
4a) A state at time t=0 at is represented by a wavefunction
2 2𝜋𝑥 2𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥
𝜓(𝑥) = √ sin ( ) [ cos ( ) + 2 cos 2 ( )]
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
Determine the earliest time 𝑡 ≠ 0 at which the wavefunction becomes completely real.
4b) Suppose the state of the particle at an instant is
𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥
ψ (x) = A sin ( 𝐿 ) [1 + cos ( 𝐿 )]
where A is the normalization constant. If the energy of the particle is measured, the
𝜋 2 ℏ2 𝑥
probability of getting the result as 2𝑚𝐿2 is 100 . What is the value of x?
4c) Find the position and momentum uncertainties for n = 1.
Answer
4a)
2 2𝜋𝑥 2𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥
𝜓(𝑥) = √ sin ( ) [ cos ( ) + 2 cos 2 ( )]
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
2 2𝜋𝑥 2 4𝜋𝑥
=√ sin ( ) + √ sin ( ) = 𝜓2 (𝑥) + 𝜓4 (𝑥)
𝐿 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
And the time evolution is
𝑖 𝑖
𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝑒 −ħ 𝐸2𝑡 𝜓2 (𝑥) + 𝑒 −ħ 𝐸4𝑡 𝜓4 (𝑥)
𝑛2 𝜋 2 ħ2
Here 𝐸𝑛 = 2 𝑚 𝐿2
, hence 𝐸4 = 4 𝐸2 , putting it we have
𝑖 𝑖
𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝑒 −ħ 𝐸2 𝑡 𝜓2 (𝑥) + 𝑒 −ħ 4 𝐸2𝑡 𝜓4 (𝑥)
8
𝜋ħ
Answer: 𝑡 = ,
𝐸2
𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥 A 2𝜋𝑥 𝐴
4b) 𝜓(𝑥) = A sin ( 𝐿 ) [1 + cos ( 𝐿 )] = 𝐴sin ( 𝐿 ) + 2 sin ( ) = 𝐴𝜓1 (𝑥) + 2 𝜓2 (𝑥),
𝐿
𝐴2 2
Normalization condition 𝐴2 + =1⇒𝐴= . The given energy is the eigenvalue of
4 √5
4
𝜓1 (𝑥), and the prob of getting it is 5.
Answer: 𝑥 = 80.
4c) Uncertainty in position Δ𝑥 = √(⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ − ⟨𝑥⟩2 ), where
𝐿
2 𝐿 𝜋𝑥 1 𝐿 2𝜋𝑥 𝐿
⟨𝑥⟩ = ∫ 𝑥 (𝜓1 (𝑥))2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 sin2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 (1 − cos ) 𝑑𝑥 =
0 𝐿 0 𝐿 𝐿 0 𝐿 2
And
𝐿
2 𝐿 2 2 𝜋𝑥 1 𝐿 2𝜋𝑥
⟨𝑥 2 ⟩ = ∫ 𝑥 2 (𝜓1 (𝑥))2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 sin 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥 2 (1 − cos ) 𝑑𝑥
0 𝐿 0 𝐿 𝐿 0 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿
1 𝐿3 𝐿 2𝜋𝑥 1 𝐿3 𝐿3 𝐿2 2𝜋𝑥
= ( + ∫ 2𝑥 sin 𝑑𝑥 ) = ( − 2 + ∫ 2 2 cos 𝑑𝑥 )
𝐿 3 0 2𝜋 𝐿 𝐿 3 2𝜋 0 4𝜋 𝐿
1 1
= 𝐿2 ( − 2 )
3 2𝜋
𝐿 1 2
Hence, Δ𝑥 = 2 √3 − 𝜋2
Similarly, uncertainty in momentum Δ𝑝 = √(⟨𝑝2 ⟩ − ⟨𝑝⟩2 ), where
𝐿
𝜕 2 𝐿 𝜋 𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥
⟨𝑝⟩ = − ∫ 𝜓1 (𝑥) 𝑖ħ 𝜓1 (𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = − ∫ 𝑖ħ sin cos 𝑑𝑥
0 𝜕𝑥 𝐿 0 𝐿 𝐿 𝐿
𝜋 𝐿 2𝜋𝑥
= −𝑖ħ 2 ∫ sin 𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝐿 0 𝐿
And
𝐿
𝜕2 2 𝐿 ħ2 𝜋 2 𝜋𝑥 ħ2 𝜋 2
⟨𝑝2 ⟩ = − ∫ 𝜓1 (𝑥) ħ 2
𝜓 (𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ sin 2
𝑑𝑥 =
0 𝜕𝑥 2 1 𝐿 0 𝐿2 𝐿 𝐿2
ħ𝜋
Hence, Δ𝑝 = 𝐿
9
5a) Monochromatic light with λ = 600 nm passes through a fast shutter that opens for 10−9
sec. What will be the spread (rough estimate in order of magnitude is sufficient) in the
wavelengths in the light that is no longer monochromatic after passing through the shutter?
5b) For a quantum particle of mass m and wavefunction 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡) for the associated wave,
show that
𝑑 ⟨𝑥̂⟩
⟨𝑝̂𝑥 ⟩ = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
where ⟨𝐴⟩ represents expectation/average value of the operator 𝐴̂ in the quantum state
represented by 𝜓(𝑥, 𝑡).
5c) If 𝑃̂ is an operator such that 𝑃̂𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(−𝑥) for any well-behaved function f(x), then
what are the eigenvalues of 𝑃̂? A particle is confined in a 1-D box such that V(x) = 0 for -L/2
< x < L/2, and infinite everywhere else. Show that the wave functions for this particle are
eigenfunctions of 𝑃̂ also.
Answer
5a) Use the coherent light uncertainty relation Δ𝑡Δ𝜈 ≥ 1.
𝑐 𝑐
Now 𝜈 = 𝜆, hence Δ𝜈 = − 𝜆2 Δ𝜆, solving this we get
𝜆2
Δ𝜆 ≤ − = 1.2 × 10−12 𝑚
𝑐 Δ𝑡
̂⟩
h d⟨A 𝑝̂2
5b) For any operator, 𝑖 2π ̂, H
= ⟨[A ̂ ]⟩, where H
̂= + 𝑉(𝑥̂),
dt 2𝑚
d⟨𝑥̂⟩ 2𝜋 2𝜋 𝑝̂2 2 𝜋 𝑝̂
hence 𝑚 ̂ ]⟩ = 𝑚
= 𝑚 𝑖 ℎ ⟨[x̂, H ⟨[𝑥̂, 2𝑚 + 𝑉(𝑥̂)]⟩ = 𝑚 𝑖 ℎ ⟨𝑚 [𝑥̂, 𝑝̂ ]⟩ =
dt 𝑖ℎ
2𝜋 h 1
𝑚 𝑖 2π 𝑚 ⟨𝑝̂ ⟩ = ⟨𝑝̂ ⟩
𝑖ℎ
(you may solve the same by considering explicit integral as well)
5c)
𝑃̂2 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑃̂𝑓(−𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) ⇒ 𝜆2 = 1 ⇒ 𝜆 = ±1
𝐿 𝐿
For infinite square well potential from − to , the wavefunction is given by
2 2
2 𝑛𝜋𝑥
√ cos [ ], 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = 1,3,5, …
𝐿 𝐿
𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) =
2 𝑛𝜋𝑥
√ sin [ ], 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = 2,4,6, …
{ 𝐿 𝐿
10
Hence, 𝑃̂ 𝜓𝑛 (𝑥) = ±𝜓𝑛 (𝑥),
11
