The initial quantum state is a coherent state. Since and the state is normalized, its mean occupation number is . Each quantum harmonic oscillator energy eigenstate acquires the phase , soThe prefactor is a global phase and does not change an expectation value. Inverting the definitions of the annihilation operator and creation operator gives . If , thenFor a classical harmonic oscillator with amplitude , the conserved energy is . Setting gives exactly the same amplitude, . Thus these coherent-state oscillator expectation values follow the classical orbit.
The full quantum mean energy is nevertheless : the extra zero-point energy belongs to the nonzero position and momentum uncertainties required by the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, rather than to the motion of the packet centre. In particular, gives zero mean displacement but a finite ground-state width. A coherent state follows a classical mean trajectory while retaining finite position and momentum uncertainties.
Past exam of the theoretical physics II course of the University of Cambridge 2017 2 c Solution 2026-10-18
The quantum state is continuous through a sudden finite-force quantum quench, so it is still at . DefineThe new Hamiltonian operator is . The old Fock vacuum obeys , so the coherent state after shifting an oscillator equilibrium rotates with amplitude relative to the new equilibrium. In the original oscillator basis, the full state isOne way to obtain the phase is to writeand apply the displacement operator composition rule. The coherent-state oscillator expectation values giveThe position uncertainty stays . These mean values obey the forced classical equation, while the nonzero variance retains the quantum width.