Special Topics

In One-
Dimensional
Quantum
Mechanics
Selected Exercises In Spatial
and Momentum Translations

Spiros Konstantogiannis
Special Topics In One-Dimensional Quantum
Mechanics
Selected Exercises In Spatial and Momentum
Translations

Spiros Konstantogiannis
Physicist, M.Sc.
Copyright 2017 by Spiros Konstantogiannis. All rights reserved. No part of this
eBook may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without the express written
permission of the writer.

2
 Contents
Contents ................................................................................................................ 3

Preface .................................................................................................................. 4

A note on the notation............................................................................................ 5

1. Spatial translation operators............................................................................... 7

2. Momentum translation operators.......................................................................15

3. Exercises ..........................................................................................................17

The coherent states of the quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) as the result of

the action of spatial and momentum translation operators on the QHO ground

state ..................................................................................................................34

The charged QHO in a homogeneous electric field ...........................................67

The most general unitary operator that can be constructed by a linear

combination of the position and momentum operators ......................................88

Momentum translations in the infinite potential well.........................................89

Momentum translations in the 1-d attractive Coulomb potential......................108

Momentum translations in the 1-d attractive delta potential.............................115

4. Selected references .........................................................................................120

3
 Preface
The present eBook is a hopefully successful attempt to present, in the framework
of quantum mechanics, the spatial and momentum translation operators in one
dimension, through a series of specifically designed exercises and applications.
The eBook is divided into two parts. In the first two sections, the translation operators
are defined and their basic properties are proved. It follows a series of problems with
detailed solutions, covering a number of aspects of translations applied to various one-
dimensional quantum systems, such as the harmonic oscillator, the infinite well, the
attractive delta potential, and the attractive Coulomb potential, with particular
emphasis on the harmonic oscillator, which serves as a model system for both spatial
and momentum translations.
The reader is assumed to have a basic knowledge of the postulates and the
mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics, including the Dirac notation and the
ladder operator method of the harmonic oscillator.

4
 A note on the notation
We reserve x0 and p0 to denote, respectively, the length and momentum scale of the
quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO). Thus, we use x1 and p1 to denote, respectively,
spatial and momentum translations.

5
 Exercises

ip x
The factor exp 1 1 is a constant phase that as we know does not change the
h
physical content of the quantum states. Thus, the states Tp1Tx1 y and
ip x
exp 1 1 Tx1Tp1 y are physically equivalent. In other words, the action of the
h
product Tx1Tp1 on an arbitrary quantum state is physically the same as the action of the
product T T on the same state.
p1 x1

Another way of proving (1) is by using the property v of the momentum translation

ipx
operators, for f ( p ) = Tx1 ( p ) = exp - 1 . Indeed, we have
h
i ( p + p1 ) x1 1 ip1 x1
ipx
Tp1 Tx1 ( p ) Tp1 = Tx1 ( p + p1 ) = exp - = exp - - =
h h h
ipx ip x ip x
= exp - 1 exp - 1 1 = Tx1 exp - 1 1
h h h
That is
ip x ip x
Tp1 Tx1Tp1 = Tx1 exp - 1 1 Tp1Tp1 Tx1Tp1 = Tp1Tx1 exp - 1 1
h { h
1

ip x ip x
Tx1 Tp1 exp 1 1 = Tp1 Tx1 Tp1Tx1 = exp 1 1 Tx1 Tp1
h h
14243
Constant, it can be moved
to the left

The coherent states of the quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) as

the result of the action of spatial and momentum translation
operators on the QHO ground state

9) The coherent states of the QHO are the eigenstates of the annihilation
mw i
operator a = x + p . They are states of minimum position-
2h mw
h
momentum uncertainty , thus the respective wave functions, in both the
2
position and the momentum representation, are Gaussian wave forms. In
coherent states, the time evolution of the position and momentum expectation
values follows the classical laws, i.e. the formulas giving the time evolution of
the position and momentum of a classical harmonic oscillator.
Well show that the coherent states are generated by the action of the product
Tp1Tx1 on the ground state 0 of the QHO, for all the values of the spatial and
momentum translations, x1 and p1 , respectively. From the exercise 8, it is
obvious that the same applies for the product Tx1Tp1 too.

Solution

34
 Exercises

We begin by writing the annihilation operator as a function of the length scale

h
x0 = and momentum scale p0 = mhw of the QHO. We have
mw

mw 1 x p
i 1 x p
=
a =
x +
p = +i +i
2h mw 2 h mhw 2 x0 p0

mw
That is
1 x p
a = + i (1)
2 x0 p0

1
Observe the symmetry and simplicity in (1). The factor can be thought of as a
2
kind of normalization constant.
Now, we would like to know how the annihilation operator is transformed by the
action of the product Tp1Tx1 , i.e. we want to calculate the product

(T T ) a ( x, p )T T

p1 x1 p1 x1 (the annihilation operator is a function actually a linear
function of the position and momentum operators). We have

(T T ) a ( x, p ) T T

p1 x1 p1 x1 = Tx1 Tp1 a ( x, p ) Tp1 Tx1

Using the property Tp1 f ( x , p ) Tp1 = f ( x , p + p1 ) of the momentum translation

operators for f ( x, p ) = a ( x, p ) , we obtain

Tp1 a ( x, p ) Tp1 = a ( x, p + p1 )
Thus

(T T ) a ( x, p ) T T

p1 x1 p1 x1 = Tx1 a ( x, p + p1 ) Tx1

Now, using the property Tx1 f ( x, p ) Tx1 = f ( x + x1 , p ) of the spatial translation

operators for f ( x, p ) = a ( x , p + p1 ) , we obtain

(T T ) a ( x, p ) T T

p1 x1 p1 x1 = a ( x + x1 , p + p1 ) (2)

From (1) we obtain

1 x + x1 p + p1 1 x p 1 x1 p1
a ( x + x1 , p + p1 ) = +i = +i + +i
2 x0 p0 2 x0 p0 2 x0 p0
That is
1 x1 p1
a ( x + x1 , p + p1 ) = a ( x, p ) + + i (3)
2 x0 p0

35
 Exercises

Substituting (3) into (2) yields

1 x1 p1
(T T ) a ( x, p ) T T

p1 x1 p1 x1 = a ( x , p ) +
+i
2 x0 p0
1 x1 p1
( )

Tp1Tx1 Tp1Tx1 a ( x, p ) Tp1Tx1 = Tp1Tx1 a ( x, p ) + + i
2 x0 p0

But

( )

Tp1 Tx1 Tp1Tx1 = Tp1 Tx1 Tx1 Tp1 = Tp1Tp1 = 1
{
1

As the product of two unitary operators, Tp1Tx1 is also a unitary operator.

Thus
1 x1 p1
a ( x , p ) Tp1 Tx1 = Tp1 Tx1 a ( x, p ) + + i Tp1 Tx1
2 x0 p0
Or
1 x1 p1
p1 Tx1 = Tp1 Tx1 a +
aT + i Tp1 Tx1 (4)
2 x0 p0

where a = a ( x, p ) .
If l is an arbitrary eigenstate of a with eigenvalue l (the annihilation
operator is not Hermitian, therefore its eigenvalues is generally complex numbers),
then acting on l by both members of (4) yields

1 x1 p1
p1 Tx1 l = Tp1 Tx1 a l +
aT + i Tp1 Tx1 l =
2 x0 p0
1 x1 p1 1 x1 p1
= l Tp1Tx1 l + + i Tp1Tx1 l = l + + i Tp1Tx1 l
2 x0 p0 2 x0 p0

That is
1 x1 p1
p1Tx1 l = l +
aT + i Tp1Tx1 l (5)
2 x p
0 0

From (5) we deduce that Tp1Tx1 l is an eigenstate of the annihilation operator, with
1 x1 p1
eigenvalue l + +i .
2 x0 p0
The operator Tp1Tx1 is unitary, and thus it preserves the norms of the states on which it
acts. Therefore

Tp1 Tx1 l = l = 1

36
 Exercises

Thus, the state Tp1Tx1 l is a normalized eigenstate of the annihilation operator, with
1 x1 p1
eigenvalue l + + i , i.e.
2 x0 p0

1 x1 p1
Tp1Tx1 l = l + + i (6)
2 x0 p0

Choosing l = 0 we obtain

1 x1 p1
Tp1Tx1 0 = + i (7)
2 x0 p0

The parameter x1 i.e. the spatial translation can be any real number and so can be
the parameter p1 i.e. the momentum translation. Thus, the eigenvalue
1 x1 p1 x1 p
+i = +i 1 can be any complex number (including zero).
2 x0 p0 2 x0 2 p0
1 x1 p1
Therefore, the eigenstate +i is an arbitrary eigenstate of the
2 x0 p0
annihilation operator a .
The operator Tp1Tx1 , acting on the ground state of the QHO, generates all the
eigenstates of a .
Since the state Tp1Tx1 0 is an arbitrary eigenstate of a , we can write

Tp1Tx1 0 = l (8)

1 x1 p1
where l = +i .
2 x0 p0
That is
x1
Re l = (9)
2 x0
p1
Im l = (10)
2 p0
The equation (8) tells us that the coherent states are generated by applying spatial and
momentum translations to the ground state of the QHO.

Particularly, as it can be seen by (9) and (10), the application of spatial

translations to the ground state generates coherent states with real eigenvalues,
while the application of momentum translations generates coherent states with
imaginary eigenvalues. The combined application of spatial and momentum
translations generates coherent states with complex eigenvalues.

37
 Exercises

As shown in the exercises 1 and 6, the spatial translation operators leave unchanged
the position-uncertainty, the momentum uncertainty, and, obviously, the position-
momentum uncertainty product, and so do the momentum translation operators.
The QHO ground state is a Gaussian function, meaning that the position-momentum
h
uncertainty product is minimum, i.e. , in the state 0 . Since the action of Tx1 does
2
not change either the position or the momentum uncertainty, the state Tx1 0 is also a
state of minimum position-momentum uncertainty. Again, since the action of T p1

leaves unchanged the position uncertainty and the momentum uncertainty, the state
Tp1Tx1 0 is still a state of minimum position-momentum uncertainty. Therefore, the
eigenstates of the annihilation operator are states of minimum position-momentum
uncertainty, and moreover, in all those eigenstates, both the position uncertainty and
the momentum uncertainty are respectively equal to the position uncertainty and the
momentum uncertainty in the QHO ground state, that is
( Dx ) l = ( Dx ) 0 (11)

( Dp ) l = ( Dp ) 0 (12)

and
h
( DxDp ) l = ( DxDp ) 0 = (13)
2

10) Calculate the arbitrary eigenstate l i.e. the arbitrary coherent state
in the position representation, and express it in terms of the position and
momentum expectation values.

Solution
1 x1 p1
In the exercise 9, we showed that l = Tp1Tx1 0 , where l = + i , i.e.
2 x0 p0
x p1
Re l = 1 and Im l = .
2 x0 2 p0
Projecting the eigenstate l onto the axis x , we obtain the respective
eigenfunction y l ( x ) = x l in the position representation. Then, we have

l = Tp Tx 0 x l = x Tp Tx 0 = Tp ( x ) Tx ( x ) x 0
1 1 { 1 1 1 1 {
y l ( x) y 0 ( x)

y l ( x ) = Tp1 ( x ) Tx1 ( x )y 0 ( x ) (1)

The wave function y 0 ( x ) = x 0 is the ground state of the QHO, that is

1
1 4 x2
y 0 ( x) = 2
exp - 2
(2)
p x0 2 x0

38
 Exercises

h
where x0 = is the length scale of the QHO.
mw
We have shown refer to exercise 1 that the action of Tx1 ( x ) on an arbitrary wave
function y ( x ) of an arbitrary system shifts the argument x by - x1 , i.e.
T ( x )y ( x ) = y ( x - x ) . Applying that to (2) yields
x1 1

1
1 4 ( x - x1 ) 2
Tx1 ( x )y 0 ( x ) = 2
exp - (3)
p x
0 2 x 2
0
On the other hand, in the position representation, the momentum translation operator
ip x
is a position-dependent phase, i.e. Tp1 ( x ) = exp 1 . Thus, (1) is written as
h
1
1 4 ip1 x ( x - x1 ) 2
y l ( x) = 2
exp exp - 2 x 2 (4)
p x0 h 0
The spatial translation x1 is equal to the position expectation value in the state l
and the momentum translation p1 is equal to the momentum expectation value in the
state l , i.e.

x1 = x l
(5)

p1 = p l
(6)

Thus, (4) becomes

( )
1 2

1 4 i p l x x - x l
y l ( x) = 2
exp exp - (7)
p x0 h 2 x0 2

1 x l
p l
where l = +i .
2 x0

p0
The relation (7) is the expression of the arbitrary coherent state l in the position
representation in terms of the position and momentum expectation values in that state.
Let us now prove (5) and (6).
First proof
Since l is an eigenstate of the annihilation operator a , with eigenvalue l , we have

a l = l l

Thus, the expectation value of a in the state l is

a = l a l = l l l = l l l = l
l {
1

39
 Exercises

That is
a l
= l (8)

1 x p
Using the expression a = + i , the expectation value of a in an arbitrary
2 x0 p0
state not necessarily in an eigenstate of a will be

1 x p 1 x p
a = +i = +i
2 x0 p0 2 x0 p1

Thus, in the eigenstate l ,

1 x l p l
a = +i (9)
l
2 x0 p1

Comparing (8) and (9) we obtain

1 x l p l
l= +i (10)
2 x0 p1

1 x1 p1
Now, comparing (10) with l = + i , we obtain
2 x0 p0

1 x l p l 1 x p
+i =
1
+i 1
2 x0 p1
2 x0 p0

Since x l
, p l
, x1 , p1 are all real, from the last equation we obtain

x l
= x1

p l
= p1

which are (5) and (6).

Second proof
The expectation value of an observable O ( x, p ) in the state l is

O = l O l (11)
l

( )

Since l = Tp1Tx1 0 , the bra l is l = 0 Tp1Tx1 (be careful to take the adjoint of
the product, not the product of the two adjoints!). Thus, we have
l = 0 Tx Tp (12)
1 1

The expectation value of O is then written as

O = 0 Tx1 Tp1 OT
T 0 (13)
p1 x1
l

40
 Exercises

Using the property vi of the spatial and momentum translation operators, we have
Tx1 Tp1 O ( x , p ) Tp1Tx1 = Tx1 O ( x, p + p1 ) Tx1 = O ( x + x1 , p + p1 )
That is
Tx1 Tp1 O ( x , p ) Tp1Tx1 = O ( x + x1 , p + p1 ) (14)
Thus, (13) is written as
O ( x, p ) = O ( x + x1 , p + p1 ) (15)
l 0

Applying (15) to the position and momentum operator, x and p , respectively, we

obtain
x l
= x + x1 0
= x 0
+ x1 = x1

and
p l
= p + p1 0
= p 0
+ p1 = p1

Thus
x1 = x l

p1 = p l

We remind that in the ground state of the QHO, the position and momentum
expectation values are both zero.
Third proof
Well calculate the position and momentum expectation values in the position
d
representation, where x = x and p = -ih .
dx
In the position representation, the position expectation value in the state l is written
as

= dxy l ( x ) xy l ( x )
*
x l
-

where the wave function y l ( x ) is given by (4), i.e.

1
1 4 ip1 x ( x - x1 ) 2
y l ( x) = 2
exp exp - 2 x 2
p x0 h 0
Thus
1
1 2 ( x - x1 ) 2
2
x = dxx exp - (16)
l
p x0 - x 2
0
Well calculate the integral doing the variable change
x = x - x1 (17)

41
 Exercises

Then, we have
x = x + x1
dx = dx
x : - ,
Thus, the integral in (16) takes the form
( x - x1 )2 x2
dxx exp

- 2
=
- dx ( x + x1 ) exp - 2 =
- x0 x0

x2 x2
= dxx exp - 2 + x1 dx exp - 2
- x0 - x0
x2
The first integral is zero because the integrand x exp - 2 is an odd function as
x0
x2
the product of the odd function x with the even function exp - 2 and the
x0
integration is done over a symmetric interval. The second integral is a Gaussian
integral and referring, for instance, to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaussian_integral
we see that it is equal to p x0 2 . Thus
( x - x1 ) 2
- dxx exp - x0 2 = x1 p x0 (18)
2

Substituting (18) into (16), we obtain
x l
= x1

In the same way, the momentum expectation value in the position representation is
written as, in the state l ,

d
= - dxy l ( x ) -ih dx y l ( x ) = -ih- dxy l ( x )y l ( x )
* *
p l

The derivative of the wave function y l ( x ) is obtained from (4),

ip1 x- x ip x - x
y l ( x ) = y l ( x ) + - 2 1 y l ( x ) = 1 - 2 1 y l ( x )
h x0 h x0
Thus, the momentum expectation value becomes

ip x - x
= - - dxy l ( x ) h1 - x02 1 y l ( x ) =
*
p l
i h

ip ih
= ( -ih ) 1 dx y l ( x ) + 2 dx ( x - x1 ) y l ( x )
2 2

h - x0 -
14 4244 3
1

42
 Exercises

That is

ih
dx ( x - x ) y l ( x )
2
p l
= p1 + 2 1 (19)
x0 -

Since the integrand ( x - x1 ) y l ( x )

2
is a real function, the integral in (19) is a real

ih
dx ( x - x1 ) y l ( x ) is an imaginary number, which
2
2
number, so the quantity
x0 -
must be zero because the momentum expectation value must be real. This means that

dx ( x - x ) y l ( x )
2
the integral 1 must be zero. Let us verify that.
-
From (4) we obtain
1
1 2 ( x - x1 ) 2
y l ( x)
2
= 2
exp - (20)
p x0 x0 2

Observe that the function y l ( x ) is not even.

2

Using (20), the integral in (19) is written as

1

1 2 ( x - x1 ) 2
dx ( x - x ) y l ( x ) dx ( x - x1 ) exp -
2
2
=
1
p x0 - x 2
- 0
( x - x1 ) 2
Doing again the variable change (17), the integral dx ( x - x1 ) exp -
x 2
- 0

x
2
x 2
becomes dxx exp - 2 , which is zero because the integrand x exp - 2 is
- x0 x0

dx ( x - x ) y l ( x )
2
now odd (as product of an odd with an even function). Thus 1 = 0,
-
as we expected. Therefore, from (19), the momentum expectation value is
p l
= p1

11) In the exercise 9, we showed that an arbitrary coherent state l of the

QHO, with eigenvalue l , is generated by the action of a spatial translation
operator Tx1 and a momentum translation operator Tp1 on the ground state of
1 x1 p1
the QHO, i.e. l = Tp Tx 0 , with l =
+ i , where x0 , p0 are,
2 x0
1 1
p0
respectively, the length and momentum scale of the QHO.
Assume a QHO in an arbitrary coherent state l .
i) Show that the probability of finding the QHO in an arbitrary energy
2
eigenstate n is given by a Poisson distribution with parameter l , i.e. with

43