Before rotation the state is
ψ
(x)
+ ̄h=
1
(^21)
√
2
1
2
The rotated state is.
ψ′=
i 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 −i
1
(^21)
√
2
1
2
=
i
(^21)
√
2
−i
2
Now, what remains is to check whether this state is the one we expect. What isψ(−y)? We find that
state by solving the eigenvalue problem.
Lyψ(−y)=− ̄hψ(−y)
̄h
√
2 i
0 1 0
−1 0 1
0 −1 0
a
b
c
=− ̄h
a
b
c
√ib
2
i(c√−a)
2
−√ib
2
=
a
b
c
Settingb= 1, we get the unnormalized result.
ψ−(y)=C
√i
2
1
√−i
2
Normalizing, we get.
ψ(−y)=
i
(^21)
√ 2
−i
2
This is exactly the same as the rotated state. A 90 degree rotationabout the z axis changesψ+(x)
intoψ(−y).
18.10.6Energy Eigenstates of anℓ= 1 System in a B-field
Recall that the Hamiltonian for a magnetic moment in an external B-field is
H=
μBB
̄h
Lz.
As usual, we find the eigenstates (eigenvectors) and eigenvalues of a system by solving the time-
independent Schr ̈odinger equationHψ=Eψ. We see that everything in the Hamiltonian above is
a (scalar) constant except the operatorLz, so that
Hψ=
μBB
̄h
Lzψ=constant∗(Lzψ).