Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-a-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/paper-1/section-b/b7/b/solution

Solving the Time-independent Schrödinger equation with gives . The periodic boundary condition requires , hence . With the angular integration measure , wavefunction normalization gives
so a convenient orthonormal eigenbasis is
The ground state is nondegenerate. For each , and span a two-dimensional energy eigenspace; real sine and cosine combinations are an equally valid basis. These opposite-circulation eigenstates have angular momentum and .
If instead the wavefunction is normalized with respect to physical arc length , its expression is . The two conventions describe the same probability, since . The remaining parts use .

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