Chapter 9: Q5P (page 345)
Solve Equation 9.13 to second order in perturbation theory, for the general case
(9.13).
Short Answer
The second order perturbation theory for the equation is
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Chapter 9: Q5P (page 345)
Solve Equation 9.13 to second order in perturbation theory, for the general case
(9.13).
The second order perturbation theory for the equation is
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You could derive the spontaneous emission rate (Equation 11.63) without the detour through Einstein鈥檚 A and B coefficients if you knew the ground state energy density of the electromagnetic field for then it would simply be a case of stimulated emission (Equation 11.54). To do this honestly would require quantum electrodynamics, but if you are prepared to believe that the ground state consists of one photon in each classical mode, then the derivation is very simple:
(a) Replace Equation by localid="1658381580036" and deduce (Presumably this formula breaks down at high frequency, else the total "vacuum energy" would be infinite ... but that's a story for a different day.)
(b) Use your result, together with Equation 9.47, to obtain the spontaneous emission rate. Compare Equation 9.56.
Calculate the lifetime (in seconds) for each of the four n = 2 states of hydrogen. Hint: You鈥檒l need to evaluate matrix elements of the form , and so on. Remember that role="math" localid="1658303993600" . Most of these integrals are zero, so inspect them closely before you start calculating. Answer: seconds for all except role="math" localid="1658304185040" , which is infinite.
The half-life of an excited state is the time it would take for half the atoms in a large sample to make a transition. Find the relation betweenrole="math" localid="1658300900358" (the 鈥渓ife time鈥 of the state).
Develop time-dependent perturbation theory for a multi-level system, starting with the generalization of Equations 9.1 and 9.2:
(9.79)
At time t = 0 we turn on a perturbation so that the total Hamiltonian is
(9.80).
(a) Generalize Equation 9.6 to read
(9.81).
and show that
(9.82).
Where
(9.83).
(b) If the system starts out in the state , show that (in first-order perturbation theory)
(9.84).
and
(9.85).
(c) For example, supposeis constant (except that it was turned on at t = 0 , and switched off again at some later time . Find the probability of transition from state N to state M as a function of T. Answer:
(9.86).
(d) Now supposeis a sinusoidal function of time: Making the usual assumptions, show that transitions occur only to states with energy , and the transition probability is
(9.87).
(e) Suppose a multi-level system is immersed in incoherent electromagnetic radiation. Using Section 9.2.3 as a guide, show that the transition rate for stimulated emission is given by the same formula (Equation 9.47) as for a two-level system.
(9.47).
For the examples inProblem 11.24(c) and (d), calculate to first order. Check the normalization condition:
,
and comment on any discrepancy. Suppose you wanted to calculate the probability of remaining in the original state ; would you do better to use ?
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