phy-4600/solutions/exam1/prob1
2016-02-21 01:05:07 -05:00

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The characteristic equation for the spin operator S𝓏 is
S𝓏 (S𝓏 + ħ)(S𝓏 - ħ) = 0.
The eigenvalues, which are the roots of this equation, are
λ = 0, ±ħ.
The S𝓏 operator is already diagonalized in its own basis, so the matrix has the immediately constructable form of
S𝓏
⎛ 1 0 0 ⎞
ħ ⎜ 0 0 0 ⎟
⎝ 0 0 -1 ⎠
To produce the operator S𝓏, one can apply the rotation matrix for a rotation about the y axis., where the angle of rotation is π/2.
⎛ cosθ 0 sinθ ⎞ ⎛ 0 0 1 ⎞
R = ⎜ 0 1 0 ⎟ = ⎜ 0 1 0 ⎟
⎝-sinθ 0 cosθ ⎠ ⎝-1 0 0 ⎠
S𝓍 = S𝓏 R ≐
⎛ 1 0 0 ⎞ ⎛ 0 0 1 ⎞ ⎛ 0 0 1 ⎞
ħ ⎜ 0 0 0 ⎟ ⎜ 0 1 0 ⎟ = ⎜ 0 1 0 ⎟
⎝ 0 0 -1 ⎠ ⎝-1 0 0 ⎠ ⎝-1 0 0 ⎠
The same is true for the S𝓍 operator in its basis. To express this operator in the z basis, however, it must be diagonalized.