Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 ib Paper 3 16B Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Expand the initial wavefunction in the complete orthonormal energy eigenstates, with . The unitary time evolution isOn the two-dimensional subspace spanned by , the observable has matrix . Its normalized eigenvectors are the symmetric and antisymmetric combinations. A complete orthonormal eigenbasis is thereforeThe eigenvalues are , with infinitely degenerate. The first two are nondegenerate, regardless of the distinct energies .
The first measurement in quantum mechanics, with outcome , leaves the state up to an irrelevant phase. At time it has becomeIts probability amplitude for outcome isThe Born rule gives the two-level observable transition probability