Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

Assignment 3: Solution

1. Given the density operator,

3 1
ρ̂ = | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z|,
4 4
Construct the density matrix. Show that this is the density operator for a mixed state.
Determine ⟨Sx ⟩, ⟨Sy ⟩ and ⟨Sz ⟩ for this state.

Solution:
The density matrix elements are,

ρmn = ⟨ϕm | ρ̂ |ϕn ⟩,

Choosing the Zeeman basis {|ϕ1 ⟩ , |ϕ2 ⟩} = {| + z⟩ , | − z⟩}, we have,

ρ11 = ⟨+z| ρ̂ | + z⟩,

( )
3 1
= ⟨+z| | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z| | + z⟩,
4 4
3 1
= ⟨+z| + z⟩⟨+z| + z⟩ + ⟨+z| − z⟩⟨−z| + z⟩,
4 4
3
= .
4
Since the inner product ⟨+z| + z⟩ = 1 satisfies the orthonormality condition and
⟨+z| − z⟩ = 0. Similarly,

ρ12 = ⟨+z| ρ̂ | − z⟩,

3 1
= ⟨+z| + z⟩⟨+z| − z⟩ + ⟨+z| − z⟩⟨−z| − z⟩ = 0.
4 4
ρ21 = ⟨−z| ρ̂ | + z⟩,
3 1
= ⟨−z| + z⟩⟨+z| + z⟩ + ⟨−z| − z⟩⟨−z| + z⟩ = 0.
4 4
ρ22 = ⟨−z| ρ̂ | − z⟩,
3 1 1
= ⟨−z| + z⟩⟨+z| − z⟩ + ⟨−z| − z⟩⟨−z| − z⟩ = .
4 4 4
Therefore the density matrix in the Zeeman basis can be written as,
   
3
ρ11 ρ12 0
ρ =  =4 .
1
ρ21 ρ22 0 4

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 1

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

The density matrix for a pure state ρ̂ = |ψ⟩⟨ψ| must preserves the trace i.e., (ρ̂2 = ρ)
and (Tr(ρ̂2 ) = Tr(ρ̂) = 1) while for a mixed state (Tr(ρ̂2 ) < 1). Hence Tr(ρ̂2 ) is a
measure of the purity of the state.
Now for the given density matrix, we can write,
( )( )
3 1 3 1
2
ρ̂ = ρ̂ρ̂ = | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z| | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z| ,
4 4 4 4
( ) ( )
9 3  :0

= | + z⟩⟨+z| + z⟩⟨+z| + | + z⟩⟨+z|
− z⟩⟨−z|,
16 16
( ) ( )
3 :0


z⟩⟨+z| 1
= | − z⟩⟨−z|
+ + | − z⟩⟨−z| − z⟩⟨−z|,
16 16
( ) ( )
9 1
= | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z|.
16 16

and,
( ) ( )
9 1
2
Tr(ρ̂ ) = ⟨+z| + z⟩ + ⟨−z| − z⟩,
16 16
9 1 10
= + = = 0.625.
16 16 16

Since ρ̂2 ̸= ρ̂ and Tr(ρ̂2 ) < 1, we can conclude that this is the density operator for a
mixed state.

The spin operators for a spin-1/2 particle are given as,

( )
~
Sˆx = | + z⟩⟨−z| + | − z⟩⟨+z| ,
2
( )
i~
Sˆy = | − z⟩⟨+z| − | + z⟩⟨−z| ,
2
( )
~
ˆ
Sz = | + z⟩⟨+z| − | − z⟩⟨−z| .
2

The expectation value of any operator can be written as,

⟨Â⟩ = Tr(Âρ̂).

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 2

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

Using the above relationship, the expectation value of the Sˆz can be found out as,
ˆ
⟨Sˆz ⟩ = Tr(Sˆz ρ̂),
( ( ) ( ))
~ 3 1
= Tr | + z⟩⟨+z| − | − z⟩⟨−z| ∗ | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z| ,
2 4 4
( )
3~ ~ :0


z⟩⟨−z|
= Tr | + z⟩⟨+z| + z⟩⟨+z| + | + z⟩
⟨+z|
−
8 8
)
3~ 
: 0 ~
z⟩⟨+z| − | − z⟩⟨−z| − z⟩⟨−z| ,
− | − z⟩ ⟨−z|
+
8 8
( )
3~ ~
= Tr | + z⟩⟨+z| − | − z⟩⟨−z| ,
8 8
3~ ~ ~
= ⟨+z| + z⟩ − ⟨−z| − z⟩ = .
8 8 4
Likewise, the expectation values of Sˆx and Sˆy are,
ˆ
⟨Sˆx ⟩ = Tr(Sˆx ρ̂),
( ( ) ( ))
~ 3 1
= Tr | + z⟩⟨−z| + | − z⟩⟨+z| ∗ | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z| ,
2 4 4
( )
3~  :0

z⟩⟨+z| ~
= Tr | + z⟩
⟨−z|
+ + | + z⟩⟨−z| − z⟩⟨−z|
8 8
)
3~ ~ 
:
 0
z⟩⟨−z| ,
+ | − z⟩⟨+z| + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩ ⟨+z|
−
8 8
( )
~ 3~
= Tr | + z⟩⟨−z| + | − z⟩⟨+z| ,
8 8
~ 3~
= ⟨+z| − z⟩ − ⟨−z| + z⟩ = 0.
8 8
ˆ
⟨Sˆy ⟩ = Tr(Sˆy ρ̂),
( ( ) ( ))
i~ 3 1
= Tr | − z⟩⟨+z| − | + z⟩⟨−z| ∗ | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z| ,
2 4 4
( )
3i~ i~  :
 0
= Tr | − z⟩⟨+z| + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩ ⟨+z|
− z⟩⟨−z|
8 8
)
3i~  :0

 i~
− | + z⟩ ⟨−z|
+ z⟩⟨+z| − | + z⟩⟨−z| − z⟩⟨−z| ,
8 8
( )
3i~ i~
= Tr | − z⟩⟨+z| − | + z⟩⟨−z| ,
8 8
3i~ i~
= ⟨−z| + z⟩ − ⟨+z| − z⟩ = 0.
8 8

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 3

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

2. Show that,

1 1 1 1
ρ̂ = | + n⟩⟨+n| + | − n⟩⟨−n| = | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z|,
2 2 2 2

where,
( ) ( )
θ θ
| + n⟩ = cos | + z⟩ + e sin
iϕ
| − z⟩,
2 2
( ) ( )
θ θ
| − n⟩ = sin | + z⟩ − e cos
iϕ
| − z⟩.
2 2

Solution:
Given density operator is,

1 1
ρ̂ = | + n⟩⟨+n| + | − n⟩⟨−n|,
2 2

Substituting the values of | + n⟩ and | − n⟩ yields,

[( ( ) ( ) ) ( ( ) ( ))]
1 θ θ θ −iϕ θ
ρ̂ = cos | + z⟩ + e sin
iϕ
| − z⟩ · ⟨+z| cos + ⟨−z|e sin ,
2 2 2 2 2
[( ( ) ( ) ) ( ( ) ( ))]
1 θ θ θ −iϕ θ
+ sin | + z⟩ − e cos
iϕ
| − z⟩ · ⟨+z| sin − ⟨−z|e cos ,
2 2 2 2 2

and,
[ ( ) (  ) ( ) ( 
) ( )
1 2 θ −iϕ θ θ θ θ
ρ̂ = cos | + z⟩⟨+z| + e cos  2
 sin | + z⟩⟨−z| + e iϕ
cos  sin
 2
| − z⟩⟨+z|
2 2 
2 
2
( ) ( ) (  ) ( )
iϕ −iϕ 2 θ 2 θ −iϕ θ θ
+ e e sin | − z⟩⟨−z| + sin | + z⟩⟨+z| − e cos 
 sin | + z⟩⟨−z|
2 2 
2 2
(  ) ( ) ( ) ]
θ θ −iϕ θ
− e cos
iϕ
 2
 sin | − z⟩⟨+z| + e e cos
iϕ 2
| − z⟩⟨−z|

2 2

and we are left with the following expression,

[ ( ) ( )] [ ( ) ( )]
1 2 θ 2 θ 1 2 θ 2 θ
ρ̂ = cos + sin | + z⟩⟨+z| + cos + sin | − z⟩⟨−z|,
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1
= | + z⟩⟨+z| + | − z⟩⟨−z|,
2 2

which is the required result.

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 4

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

3. The density matrix for an ensemble of spin- 12 particles in the Sz basis is,
 
1
n
ρ̂ −−−→  4
Sz basis
.
n∗ p

The asterisk represents complex conjugation.

(a) What value must p have? Why?

(b) What value(s) must n have for the density matrix to represent a pure state?

(c) What pure state is represented when n takes its maximum possible real value?
Express your answer in terms of the state | + n⟩ given in problem 2.

Solution:

(a) According to the normalization condition, trace of diagonal elements of a matrix

should be 1. Therefore,

Trace(ρ̂) = 1,
1 3
+ p = 1, ⇒p= .
4 4

(b) For a pure state trace(ρ̂2 ) = 1, therefore,

  
1 1
n n
2
ρ̂ =  4   4 ,
∗
n p n∗ p
 
1
+ |n| 2 n
+ 3n
 16 4 4 
=  ,
n∗ 3n∗
4
+ 4
|n|2 + 9
16

By taking trace, we are left with the following expression,

10
+ 2|n|2 = 1,
16
which implies,
6
2|n|2 = ,
16
√
3
n = ± .
4

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 5

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

√
3
(c) Taking n = 4
makes the state pure, therefore,
 √ 
1 3
 4 4 
ρ̂ =  √ . (1)
3 3
4 4

We need to find a state |ψ⟩ such that ρ̂ = |ψ⟩⟨ψ|.

Let,
 
1 a
|ψ⟩ = √   .
2 b

Then,
 
∗
 |a|
2
ab 
|ψ⟩⟨ψ| = 1
2  .
a∗ b |b| 2

Comparing the terms with Equation (1) gives,

√
1 3
a = √ , and b= √ .
2 2
Hence ρ̂ represents the pure state, i.e.,
√
1 3
|ψ⟩ = | + z⟩ + | − z⟩.
2 2
One can express it in terms of | + n⟩ and | − n⟩ of problem 2.
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 θ θ θ θ
cos | + z⟩ + e cos
iϕ
sin | − z⟩ = cos | + n⟩,
2 2 2 2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 θ −iϕ θ θ θ
sin | + z⟩ − e cos sin | − z⟩ = sin | − n⟩,
2 2 2 2
which implies,
( ) ( )
θ θ
| + z⟩ = cos | + n⟩ + sin | − n⟩.
2 2
Now,
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
θ θ θ 2 θ
sin | + n⟩ = cos sin | + z⟩ + e sin
iϕ
| − z⟩,
2 2 2 2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
θ θ θ 2 θ
cos | − n⟩ = cos sin | + z⟩ − e cos
iϕ
| − z⟩.
2 2 2 2

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 6

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

Subtracting the above two expressions yields,

( ) ( ) ( ( ) ( ))
θ θ 2 θ 2 θ
sin | + n⟩ − cos | − n⟩ = sin + cos eiϕ | − z⟩,
2 2 2 2
and,
( ( ) ( ) )
−iϕ θ θ
| − z⟩ = e sin | + n⟩ − cos | − n⟩ .
2 2
The state |ψ⟩ in terms of | + n⟩ and | − n⟩ can be written as,
( ( ) ( ) )
1 θ θ
|ψ⟩ = cos | + n⟩ + sin | − n⟩
2 2 2
√ ( ( ) ( ) )
3 −iϕ θ θ
+ e sin | + n⟩ − cos | − n⟩ .
2 2 2
4. An attempt to perform a Bell-state measurement on two photons produces a mixed
state, one in which the two photons are in the entangled state,
1 1
√ |+, +⟩ + √ |−, −⟩,
2 2
with probability p and with probability (1 − p)/2 in each of the states |+, +⟩ and
|−, −⟩. Here |+⟩ and |−⟩ represent photons linearly polarized at 45◦ and −45◦ respec-
tively. Determine the density matrix for this ensemble using the linear (horizontal and
vertical) polarization states of the photons as basis states.

Solution:
Let,
1 1
|ϕ⟩ = √ |+, +⟩ + √ |−, −⟩,
2 2
and the density matrix can be written as,
( ) ( )
1−p 1−p
ρ̂ = p|ϕ⟩⟨ϕ| + |+, +⟩⟨+, +| + |−, −⟩⟨−, −|,
2 2
( ) ( )
1−p 1−p
= pρˆ1 + ρˆ2 + ρˆ3 . (2)
2 2
Now,
 
1 0 0 1
 
1
0 0 0 0
|ϕ⟩⟨ϕ| = ρˆ1 =   in the{|H⟩ , |V ⟩}basis.
20 0 0 0
 
1 0 0 1

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 7

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

Similarly |+, +⟩⟨+, +| = ρˆ2 can be found as follows,

( ) ( )
1 1
|+, +⟩ = √ |H⟩ + |V ⟩ ⊗ √ |H⟩ + |V ⟩ ,
2 2
 
1
     
11 1 1 1

= ⊗ =  .
2 1 1 21
 
1

and,

1( )
⟨+, +| = 1 1 1 1 ,
2
 
1 1 1 1
 
1 1 1 1 1 

ρˆ2 =  
41 1 1 1
 
1 1 1 1

Likewise,
( ) ( )
1 1
|−, −⟩ = √ |H⟩ − |V ⟩ ⊗ √ |H⟩ − |V ⟩ ,
2 2
 
1
     
1 1   1  1  −1 

= ⊗ =  ,
2 −1 −1 
2 −1 
 
1
 
1
 
1 −1 1(

)
ρˆ3 = |−, −⟩⟨−, −| =   1 −1 −1 1 ,
2  −1  2
 
1
 
1 −1 −1 1
 
1 −1 1 1 −1
=  
4  −1 1 1 −1
 
1 −1 −1 1

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 8

Quantum Mechanics II PHY-312

Substituting the above expressions in Equation (2) yields,

   
1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1
  ( )  
p
0 0 0 0 1−p 1
1 1 1 1
ρ̂ =  +  
20 0 0 0 2 41 1 1 1
   
1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1
 
1 −1 −1 1
( )  
1−p 1 −1 1 1 −1
+  
2 4  −1 1 1 −1
 
1 −1 −1 1

The above expression becomes,

 
1+p 0 0 1+p
 
1
 0 1−p 1−p 0 

ρ̂ =  .
4 0 1−p 1−p 0 
 
1+p 0 0 1+p

Due Date: November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm 9