Tagged Questions

0
votes
1answer
29 views

Some Dirac notation unclarities

Q1: Ok so i have come to a point where i know that $\Psi(r,t)$ which we denote only by $\Psi$ can be represented in a Hilbert space by a vector which we denote $\left|\Psi\right\rangle$. Does this ...
1
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2answers
47 views

Vector $\vec{z}$ and its conjugate transpose $\overline{\vec{v}^\top}$ - is it the same as $\left|z\right\rangle$ and $\left\langle z \right|$

Lets say we have a complex vector $\vec{z} \!=\!(1\!+\!2i~~2\!+\!3i~~3\!+\!4i)^T$. Its scalar product $\vec{z}^T\!\! \cdot \vec{z}$ with itself will be a complex number, but if we conjugate the ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views

What does the notation $c = [1:\beta]$ mean?

I have been reading a online-book/blog/material on Quantum Mechanics, when I encountered a notation on a page and I have no idea what it means. See if you can help. Here's the link and follows the ...
-2
votes
1answer
145 views

Differences between orthogonality and Kronecker delta function? [closed]

If $i$ and $j$ are two variables then Kronecker delta is written as $$\delta_{i,j}~:=~\begin{cases}1 \hspace{3mm} \mbox{if} \hspace{3mm} i=j,\\ 0 \hspace{3mm}\mbox{if} \hspace{3mm}i \neq ...
1
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1answer
263 views

Wave function and Dirac bra-ket notation

Would anyone be able to explain the difference, technically, between wave function notation for quantum systems e.g. $\psi=\psi(x)$ and Dirac bra-ket vector notation? How do you get from one to the ...
2
votes
2answers
149 views

In Dirac notation, what do the subscripts represent? (Solution for particle in a box in mind)

So the set of solutions for the particle in a box is given by $$\psi_n(x) = \sqrt{\frac{2}{L}}\sin(\frac{n\pi x}{L}).$$ In Dirac notation $<\psi_i|\psi_j>=\delta_{ij}$ assuming $|\psi_i>$ ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views

Notation for differential operators and wave function math

I know that $[\frac {d^2}{dx^2}]\psi$ is $\frac {d^2\psi}{dx^2}$ but what about this one $[\frac {d^2\psi}{dx^2}]\psi^*$? Is it this like $\frac {d^2\psi\psi^*}{dx^2}$ or this like $\frac ...
1
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6answers
407 views

Is H=H* sloppy notation or really just incorrect, for Hermitian operators?

I saw it in this pdf, where they state that $P=P^\dagger$ and thus $P$ is hermitian. I find this notation confusing, because an operator A is Hermitian if $\langle \Psi | A \Psi \rangle=\langle A ...
0
votes
0answers
80 views

Quantum Mutual Information scaling

Wikipedia provides a simple definition of Quantum Mutual Information: $$I(\rho^{ab})= S(\rho^{a}) + S(\rho^{b}) - S(\rho^{ab})$$ where in terms of relative information we have: $$I(\rho^{ab})= ...
2
votes
2answers
59 views

Another question about Shankar's notation

I have another question on the notation in Shankar. I think it's sloppy, but I also may just be misunderstanding it. Again, this is at the very beginning of the math intro. He has: $$a\left| V ...
1
vote
2answers
209 views

Question on notation in Shankar's Quantum Mechanics - math intro on vector spaces

I'm just beginning Shankar's 2nd edition Quantum Mechanics and having some trouble with notation. He defines his vectors as "$\left|V\right>$" . And with a scalar multiplier as "$a\left|V\right>$" . ...
1
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1answer
692 views

What does $\Psi^*$ mean in Schrodinger's Equation?

I am not a physics student. In one of my courses, some fundamental concepts of Quantum mech were needed, so i was gng through them when i stumbled upon this It says $$\text{probability} = ...
0
votes
2answers
183 views

How is an arbitrary operator usually denoted in quantum mechanics?

Which symbols are usually used to denote an arbitrary operator in quantum mechanics, such as O in the following example? $O \mbox{ is Hermitian} \Leftrightarrow \Im{\left< O \right>} = 0$
1
vote
1answer
276 views

state vector notation

I've never taken a quantum mechanics class, but I find myself now using principles developed in the quantum theory of angular momentum. One particularly confusing aspect that I'm struggling with is ...