Scribd
Upload
31 views13 pages

CHY311 Class6

Quantum mechanical systems are represented by state vectors (kets) that describe all possible outcomes as a linear combination of basis vectors with associated probabilities. Operators represent physical properties and act on state vectors to yield information. Commutators of operators quantify the extent to which operators can be measured simultaneously. For example, the position and momentum operators do not commute, reflecting the Heisenberg uncertainty principle where measuring one disturbs information about the other.

Uploaded by

Krrish Bosamia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
31 views13 pages

CHY311 Class6

Quantum mechanical systems are represented by state vectors (kets) that describe all possible outcomes as a linear combination of basis vectors with associated probabilities. Operators represent physical properties and act on state vectors to yield information. Commutators of operators quantify the extent to which operators can be measured simultaneously. For example, the position and momentum operators do not commute, reflecting the Heisenberg uncertainty principle where measuring one disturbs information about the other.

Uploaded by

Krrish Bosamia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Representation of quantum state

Recall from previous class:

Quantum mechanical system is represented by |Ψ> (ket notation)

|Ψ> = c1 |Ψ1> + c2 |Ψ2> + c3 |Ψ3> + …

|Ψ1>, |Ψ1>, |Ψ1> ….are analogous to basis vectors (state vectors). They represent all possible
outcomes.

c1, c2, c3… are analogous to components of a vector, but can take imaginary values as well. They are
related to probability such that:
c21 + c22 + c23 …… = 1
Superposition

Particle is represented as linear combination of all possible outcomes of a measurement. Example:

|Ψ> = c1 |Playing videogame> + c2 |Studying> + c3 |Sleeping> |Ψ> = c1 |Dead> + c2 |Alive>


c21 + c22 + c23 = 1 c21 + c22 = 1
c21 = 0.80 c21 = 0.50
c22 = 0.01 c22 = 0.50
c23 = 0.19
Superposition

Example:

• Energy

• Angular momentum

• Position (continuous set of outcomes in which case we replace sums with integrals and coefficients with
wavefunctions)
Operators

• It is a mathematical tool which operate on a function results another function


(operator).(function) = Another function

The function on which the operation is carried out is called operand. The operator written alone has no significance.
Operator
• Example. Apply the following operators on the given functions:
• (a) Operator d/dx and function x2.
• (b) Operator d2/dx2 and function 4x2.
• (c) Operator (∂/∂y)x and function xy2.
• (d) Operator −iћd/dx and function exp(−ikx).
• (e) Operator −ћ2d2/dx2 and function exp(−ikx).
Operators

• We need operators that can act on the wavefunction to retrieve information encoded within.

• Physical properties are represented by linear operators in Hilbert space.

• E.g., If we need to find where an electron is, we need to apply position operator
Identifying the operators
Linear Operator
• A linear operator has the following properties

  
A( f 1 + f 2 ) = A f 1 + A f 2

 
A(cf ) = c A f

Example of linear operator: Differential, integral


Non-linear operator: Square root
Algebra of operators
Commutator

Physical Significance:

If the two operators commute, then it is possible to measure the simultaneously the precise value of
both the physical quantities for which the operators stand for.
Example: Check whether following A and B operators commute:

Solution:

Let f be any arbitary well behaved wave function

( Non-zero => DO NOT COMMUTE)


Example :
Check commutation of position and momentum on arbitrary set s .

 x, P  S =
   
( xP − P x ) S = x  −i  S +i xS
  x x
Using the product rule
   
= i  −x S + S +x S 
 x x 

=i S
Therefore,

 x, P  S =i S

and
 x, P  = i Physical significance??
(Heisenberg uncertainity principle)
Remember

Measuring position changes velocity, so the order of the measurement matters

You might also like