Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-quantum-theory-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/1/a/ii/solution
Past exam of the quantum theory course of the University of Oxford 2023 1 a ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
A stationary state has . Substitution into the Schrödinger equation gives the energy eigenvalue equationThe trial wavefunction satisfies it with . The periodic boundary condition requires , hence , . The wavefunction normalization is , so a convenient common global phase gives the orthonormal basisIndeed, . This is the free particle spectrum on a circle. The ground state has energy zero and is nondegenerate. Each positive energy level , , has energy eigenspace and quantum degeneracy two. Real sine and cosine combinations give another basis of the same energy eigenspace.
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