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Question

To the given unperturbed Hamiltonian 
$\begin{bmatrix} 5 & 2 & 0 \\ 2 & 5 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix}$ 
we add a small perturbation given by 
$\epsilon \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \epsilon & 1 & -1 \\ 1 & -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix}$ 
where $\epsilon$ is a small quantity.

A pair of eigenvalues of the perturbed Hamiltonian, using first order perturbation theory, is

The correct answer is
$ 3, 7+2\epsilon$

Unperturbed Hamiltonian Eigenvalues

First, find the eigenvalues of the unperturbed Hamiltonian $ H_0 = \begin{bmatrix} 5 & 2 & 0 \\ 2 & 5 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 2 \end{bmatrix} $. Solve the characteristic equation $ \det(H_0 - \lambda I) = 0 $.

$ \begin{vmatrix} 5-\lambda & 2 & 0 \\ 2 & 5-\lambda & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 2-\lambda \end{vmatrix} = (2-\lambda)[(5-\lambda)^2 - 4] = 0 $

The unperturbed eigenvalues are $ \lambda_1^{(0)} = 2 $, $ \lambda_2^{(0)} = 3 $, and $ \lambda_3^{(0)} = 7 $.

Unperturbed Eigenvectors

Find the normalized eigenvectors corresponding to the eigenvalues $ \lambda=3 $ and $ \lambda=7 $.

  • For $ \lambda_2^{(0)} = 3 $, the eigenvector is $ |v_2^{(0)}\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} $.
  • For $ \lambda_3^{(0)} = 7 $, the eigenvector is $ |v_3^{(0)}\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} $.
  • For $ \lambda_1^{(0)} = 2 $, the eigenvector is $ |v_1^{(0)}\rangle = \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix} $.

First-Order Perturbation Calculation

The perturbation is given as $ H' = \epsilon \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \epsilon & 1 & -1 \\ 1 & -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} $. This can be expanded as $ H' = \epsilon M_0 + \epsilon^2 M_1 $, where $ M_0 = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 \\ 1 & -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} $ contains terms linear in $ \epsilon $ and $ M_1 = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix} $ contains terms quadratic in $ \epsilon $.

First-order perturbation theory considers the Hamiltonian perturbation to first order in $ \epsilon $, which is $ H'_{pert} = \epsilon M_0 $. The first-order correction to the eigenvalues is $ \lambda_n^{(1)} = \langle v_n^{(0)} | H'_{pert} | v_n^{(0)} \rangle $.

  • Correction for $ \lambda_2^{(0)} = 3 $: $ \lambda_2^{(1)} = \epsilon \langle v_2^{(0)} | M_0 | v_2^{(0)} \rangle = \epsilon \frac{1}{2} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & -1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 \\ 1 & -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ -1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} = 0 $
  • Correction for $ \lambda_3^{(0)} = 7 $: $ \lambda_3^{(1)} = \epsilon \langle v_3^{(0)} | M_0 | v_3^{(0)} \rangle = \epsilon \frac{1}{2} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 \\ 1 & -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix} = 2\epsilon $
  • Correction for $ \lambda_1^{(0)} = 2 $: $ \lambda_1^{(1)} = \epsilon \langle v_1^{(0)} | M_0 | v_1^{(0)} \rangle = \epsilon \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & -1 \\ 1 & -1 & 1 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{bmatrix} = \epsilon $

Perturbed Eigenvalues

The perturbed eigenvalues are calculated as $ \lambda_n = \lambda_n^{(0)} + \lambda_n^{(1)} $.

  • $ \lambda_2 = 3 + 0 = 3 $.
  • $ \lambda_3 = 7 + 2\epsilon $.
  • $ \lambda_1 = 2 + \epsilon $.

The pair of eigenvalues $ 3 $ and $ 7+2\epsilon $ is obtained.

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Important Questions from Perturbation Theory Time Independent Degenerate

  1. If the perturbation $V = \lambda x^3$ is added to the Hamiltonian of a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, the matrix element $\langle m|V|0 \rangle$ is/are non-zero for which of the following states? Here, the eigenstates of the harmonic oscillator are denoted by $|n\rangle$.
  2. A two-level quantum system has energy eigenvalues $E_1$ and $E_2$. A perturbing potential $H' = \lambda \Delta \sigma_x$ is introduced, where $\Delta$ is a constant having dimensions of energy, $\lambda$ is a small dimensionless parameter, and $\sigma_x = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}$. The magnitudes of the first and the second order corrections to $E_1$ due to $H'$, respectively, are

  3. A particle of mass $m$ in an infinite potential well of width $a$ is subjected to a perturbation, $V' = \frac{h^2}{40ma^2}$ as shown in figure, where $h$ is Planck's constant. 

    The first order energy shift of the fourth energy eigenstate due to this perturbation is 
    $(\frac{h^2}{Nma^2})$ 
    The value of $N$ is ____________ (in integer).

  4. The ground state energy of a particle of mass $m$ in an infinite potential well is $E_0$. It changes to $E_0(1 + \alpha \times 10^{-3})$, when there is a small potential bump of height $V_0 = \frac{\pi^2 \hbar^2}{50mL^2}$ and width $a = L/100$, as shown in the figure. The value of $\alpha$ is ________ (up to two decimal places).

  5. A particle of mass $m$ in the x-y plane is confined in an infinite two-dimensional well with vertices at $(0, 0)$, $(0, L)$, $(L, L)$, $(L, 0)$. The eigenfunctions of this particle are $\Psi_{n_x,n_y} = \sin(\frac{n_x\pi x}{L}) \sin(\frac{n_y\pi y}{L})$. If perturbation of the form $V = Cxy$, where $C$ is a real constant, is applied, then which of the following statements are correct for the first excited state?
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