In this problem you will have to decide which order of the time-independent perturbation theory to apply to find the first non-vanishing energy corrections to specified energy levels. The unperturbed system is a particle of mass m confined to the free motion on a circular ring of radius R that is situated in the xy-plane with the center at x=y=0. We use angle ϕ of the polar coordinate system to specify position on that ring. The system is now perturbed by exposing the particle to the external field with potential energy V(ϕ)=vcos(4ϕ) where positive constant v gives the potential magnitude and can be as small as needed to justify the application of the low-order perturbation theory. (a) As a preliminary, write down the unperturbed Hamiltonian H0 (ϕ) and the operator Lz (ϕ) of the z-component of particle's orbital angularmomentum. Also specify the wave functions ψ (0) (ϕ) and energies E (0) of all unperturbed stationary states with definite values of L z . (b) Consider the unperturbed stationary state with the eigenvalue of L zequal to ℏ and the corresponding energy level. What happens to them due to perturbation (1)?: find the resulting stationary states and their energies. (c) Consider the unperturbed stationary state with the eigenvalue of Lz​ equal to 2ℏ and the corresponding energy level. What happens to them due to perturbation (1)?: find the resulting stationary states and their energies. (d) Is Lz a conserved quantity in the perturbed system? Prove your answer. Are the results in questions (b) and (c) consistent with this answer?

Q&A Education