Past exam of the quantum theory course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 1 / c

Put $\tau =t-T$ and retain the global phase from the preceding Lüders rule update. Since $P{\varphi }_n=(\hslash n/R){\varphi }_n$, the same orthonormal basis diagonalizes the new Hamiltonian operator, withIn particular, ${\tilde{E}}_{\pm 2}=E_{\star }+m{s}^2/2\mp 2\hslash s/R$. Applying unitary time evolution from $T$ therefore givesThis is rigid translation from a momentum term in the Hamiltonian: the position probability density moves with velocity $-s$. The plus sign in $x+s\tau$ follows directly from the negative sign of $-sP$. At $\tau =0$ the expression agrees exactly with the preceding post-measurement state.

For an arc represented by $0\le x\le a$, take $0\le a\le 2\pi R$. The Born rule usesIntegrate using ${\cos }^{2}u=(1+\cos 2u)/2$:The result is zero at $a=0$ and one at $a=2\pi R$, checking the wavefunction normalization. At $s=0$ it reduces to $a/(2\pi R)+\sin (4a/R)/(8\pi )$, the stationary position probability. Longer intervals on the periodically identified coordinate require specifying the corresponding subset of the circle; integrating multiple turns would count the same positions repeatedly.