# Spherical Harmonics

## Prerequisites

Students should be able to:

## Homework for Central Forces

1. (Sphere)

Consider the normalized function:

$$f(\theta,\phi)= \begin{cases} N\left({\pi^2\over 4}-\theta^2\right)&0<\theta<\frac{\pi}{2}\\ 0&{\pi\over 2}<\theta<\pi \end{cases}$$

where

$$N=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\frac{\pi^5}{8} +2\pi^3-24\pi^2+48\pi}}$$

1. Find the $\left|\ell,m\right\rangle=\left|0,0\right\rangle$, $\left|1,-1\right\rangle$, $\left|1,0\right\rangle$, and $\left|1,1\right\rangle$ terms in a spherical harmonics expansion of $f(\theta,\phi)$.

2. If a quantum particle, confined to the surface of a sphere, is in the state above, what is the probability that a measurement of the square of the total angular momentum will yield $2\hbar^2$? $4\hbar^2$?

3. If a quantum particle, confined to the surface of a sphere, is in the state above, what is the probability that the particle can be found in the region $0<\theta<{\pi\over 6}$ and $0<\phi<{\pi\over 6}$? Repeat the question for the region ${5\pi\over 6}<\theta<{\pi}$ and $0<\phi<{\pi\over 6}$. Plot your approximation from part (a) above and check to see if your answers seem reasonable.

##### Views

New Users

Curriculum

Pedagogy

Institutional Change

Publications