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ARPIT Course On
Introduction to Quantum Physics and its Applications
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Assignment – 5 (for Lecture 6)
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Problems on Wave Packet and Fourier Theory:

In the following problems (1-4), the following definitions of Δx and Δk should be

used. In the plot of f(x) vs x, there will be two points x1 and x2 where the value of
f(x) is half of its maximum value. Δx is defined to be |x2-x1|. Similarly in the plot
of g(k) vs k, there will be two points k1 and k2 where the value of g(k) is half of its
maximum value. Δk is defined to be |k2-k1|

1. A wave packet is of the form

f (x) = e−α |x| (for −∞ ≤ x ≤ ∞ ) where α is a positive constant.
(a) Plot f (x) versus x .
(b) At what values of x does f (x) attain half of its maximum value ?
+∞
ikx
(c) Calculate the Fourier transform of f (x) , i.e. g(k) = ∫ f (x)e dx ?
−∞
(d) Plot g(k) versus k .
(e) Find the values of k at which g(k) attains half of its maximum value
(f) From the values obtained in parts (b) and (e), find the value of the product
Δx.Δk
$ ∞
−(α −ik ) x 1 '
&Given : ∫ e dx = )
% 0 α − ik (

2. A wave packet is of the form

f (x) = x (for −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 ) and f (x) = 0 elsewhere
(a) Plot f (x) versus x .
+∞
ikx
(b) Calculate the Fourier transform of f (x) , i.e. g(k) = ∫ f (x)e dx ?
−∞

(c) Plot | g(k) | versus k .

(d) At what value of k , | g(k) | attains a minimum value?
3. A wave packet is constructed by superposing waves, their wavelengths varying
continuously in the following way
y(x, t) = ∫ A(k)cos(kx − wt)dk
where A(k) = A for (ko-Δk/2) ≤ ko ≤ (ko+Δk/2) and = 0 otherwise. Sketch
approximately y(x,t) and estimate Δx by taking the difference between two
values of x for which the central maximum and nearest minimum is observed
in the envelope. Verify uncertainty principle from this.

4. Following is the form of a triangular pulse,

f (x) = 1− | x | (for −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 ) and f (x) = 0 elsewhere
(a) Plot f (x) versus x .
+∞
ikx
(b) Calculate the Fourier transform of f (x) , i.e. g(k) = ∫ f (x)e dx ?
−∞

(c) Plot g(k) versus k .

(d) At what value of k , | g(k) | attains its maximum value?
(e) Find the values of k, at which g(k) attains half of this maximum value
(f) From the values obtained in part (e), find the value of the spread Δk ?
Hence calculate the spread Δx using the uncertainty relation Δx.Δk = 1 / 2

Problems on Uncertainty Principles:

5. The position and the momentum of a 1keV electron are determined

simultaneously. Its position is known to an accuracy of only 1 Å along x-axis.
Using uncertainty principle, what is the minimum permissible percentage
uncertainty in its momentum along the x-axis? From the above data can you
determine the uncertainty along y-axis?

6. An electron falls from a height of 10 m and passes through a hole of radius

1 cm. To study the motion of the electron afterwards, should we apply the
wave aspect or the particle aspect?

7. Estimate the minimum possible energy consistent with uncertainty principle (i.e.
ground state energy) for a particle of mass ‘m’ bound in a potential V=kx4. Use
the following uncertainty principle for this problem Δx Δpx ≥ !/2.
 !
8. In the following cases, the average momentum p is zero. In such cases, the
uncertainty in momentum Δp is given
!!
p. p = p2
Use the uncertainty relation by Δr.Δp ≥ (! / 2) to answer the following questions
(a) The minimum kinetic energy that a proton would have if it is confined to a
nucleus of approximate diameter 10-14 m. How will the answer change if
proton is replaced by an electron.
(b) The ground state energy of a particle of mass m bound by a potential
V=(1/2)kx2
(c) The radial distance r for which the sum of kinetic and potential energies is
minimum in hydrogen atom.

9. A container contains monatomic hydrogen gas in thermal equilibrium at a

temperature T, for which kBT= 0.025 eV. Let E1 is the difference between the
ground state and the first excited state energy of the atom when at rest. Let E2
be the energy of photon (in the frame of container) required to make this
transition in an atom, which is traveling towards the photon (in an antiparallel
direction) with the average energy at the above specified temperature.
(i) Find E1-E2.
(ii) After the absorption of photon what would be the final velocity of the
hydrogen atom.
(iii) If the lifetime of the first excited state is 10-8 s, will the photon with
energy E2 be able to cause a transition, and had the atom been at rest. Discuss
quantitatively.
You are free to make any assumption, provided you justify it.

10. For a non-relativistic electron, using the uncertainty relation

ΔxΔpx = ! / 2
(a) Derive the expression for the minimum kinetic energy of the electron
localized in a region of size a.
(b) If the uncertainty in the location of the particle is equal to its de Broglie
wavelength, show that the uncertainty in the measurement of its velocity is
same as the particle velocity.
(c) Using the expression in (b), calculate the uncertainty in the velocity of an
electron having energy 0.2 keV
(d) An electron of energy 0.2 keV is passed through a circular hole of radius
10-6 m. What is the uncertainty introduced in the angle of emergence in
radians ? (Given tanθ≅θ)