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Question

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).

1. Identify the wavefunction for the $n$-th energy state:

For an infinite potential well of width $a$ defined from $x = 0$ to $x = a$, the normalized wavefunctions are given by: 
$\psi_n(x) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{a}} \sin\left(\frac{n\pi x}{a}\right)$ 
For the fourth energy eigenstate ($n = 4$): 
$\psi_4(x) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{a}} \sin\left(\frac{4\pi x}{a}\right)$

2. Set up the first-order energy shift formula:

According to first-order perturbation theory, the energy shift $E_n^{(1)}$ is the expectation value of the perturbation $V'$ in the unperturbed state: 
$E_n^{(1)} = \int_0^a \psi_n^*(x) V'(x) \psi_n(x) \, dx$ 
From the figure, $V'(x)$ is non-zero only in the region from $x = \frac{3a}{4}$ to $x = a$: 
$E_4^{(1)} = \int_{3a/4}^a \left( \sqrt{\frac{2}{a}} \sin\left(\frac{4\pi x}{a}\right) \right)^2 \cdot V' \, dx$ 
$E_4^{(1)} = \frac{2V'}{a} \int_{3a/4}^a \sin^2\left(\frac{4\pi x}{a}\right) \, dx$

3. Evaluate the integral:

Use the trigonometric identity $\sin^2\theta = \frac{1 - \cos 2\theta}{2}$: 
$\int_{3a/4}^a \sin^2\left(\frac{4\pi x}{a}\right) \, dx = \int_{3a/4}^a \frac{1 - \cos(8\pi x/a)}{2} \, dx$ 
$= \frac{1}{2} \left[ x - \frac{a}{8\pi} \sin\left(\frac{8\pi x}{a}\right) \right]_{3a/4}^a$ 
$= \frac{1}{2} \left[ \left( a - 0 \right) - \left( \frac{3a}{4} - \frac{a}{8\pi} \sin(6\pi) \right) \right]$ 
$= \frac{1}{2} \left[ a - \frac{3a}{4} \right] = \frac{1}{2} \left( \frac{a}{4} \right) = \frac{a}{8}$

4. Calculate $E_4^{(1)}$ and find N:

Substitute the value of the integral and $V' = \frac{h^2}{40ma^2}$ back into the equation: 
$E_4^{(1)} = \frac{2}{a} \cdot \left( \frac{h^2}{40ma^2} \right) \cdot \frac{a}{8}$ 
$E_4^{(1)} = \frac{2h^2}{320ma^2} = \frac{h^2}{160ma^2}$

Comparing this with the given form $\frac{h^2}{Nma^2}$:
$N = 160$

The value of N is 160.

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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. 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).

  4. 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?
  5. Consider the Hamiltonian $\hat{H} = \hat{H}_0 + \hat{H}'$ where 

    \[\hat{H}_0 = \begin{pmatrix} E & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & E & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & E \end{pmatrix}\]

      and  $\hat{H}$ is the time independent perturbation given by 

    \[\hat{H}' = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & k & 0 \\ k & 0 & k \\ 0 & k & 0 \end{pmatrix}\]

     where $k>0$. If, the maximum energy eigenvalue of $\hat{H}$ is 3 eV corresponding to $E=2$ eV, the value of $k$ (rounded off to three decimal places) in eV is ________.

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