Khree identical spin 1/2 particles of mass m are free to move within a...
Introduction:
In this problem, we have three identical spin 1/2 particles that can move freely within a one-dimensional rigid box of length L. The particles are non-interacting, which means that their individual energies can be determined independently. We need to find the energies of the two lowest energy eigenstates.
Quantum States:
The particles can be in one of two spin states, either spin up or spin down. Since there are three identical particles, the total number of possible states is 2^3 = 8. However, due to the Pauli exclusion principle, the states with all three particles in the same spin state are not allowed. Therefore, there are a total of 8 - 1 = 7 possible states.
Energy Levels:
The energy levels of the particles in the box are quantized. The energy of a single particle is given by the formula E = n^2 * (π^2 * ħ^2) / (2mL^2), where n is the quantum number, ħ is the reduced Planck's constant, and m is the mass of the particle.
Lowest Energy Eigenstates:
To find the lowest energy eigenstates, we need to assign the quantum numbers to the particles. Let's consider two cases:
1. Case 1: Two particles in spin up state and one particle in spin down state.
- The energy of the two particles in spin up state is given by E = n^2 * (π^2 * ħ^2) / (2mL^2).
- The energy of the particle in spin down state is also given by the same formula.
- The total energy of this state is the sum of the energies of the three particles.
2. Case 2: Two particles in spin down state and one particle in spin up state.
- The energy of the two particles in spin down state is given by E = n^2 * (π^2 * ħ^2) / (2mL^2).
- The energy of the particle in spin up state is also given by the same formula.
- The total energy of this state is the sum of the energies of the three particles.
Conclusion:
In this problem, we have determined the energies of the two lowest energy eigenstates for three identical spin 1/2 particles in a one-dimensional rigid box. The energies depend on the quantum numbers assigned to the particles and can be calculated using the formula E = n^2 * (π^2 * ħ^2) / (2mL^2). By considering the possible spin configurations, we have found two states with the lowest energies.