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Jack Ceroni
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Let's say that I am inhave some quantum system defined by Hamiltonian $\hat{H}$. The energy eigenstates of this Hamiltonian form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of all possible states corresponding to this quantum system.

Now, if I have some initial state $|\Psi(0)\rangle$, I can solve for $|\Psi(t)\rangle$ by finding the complex coefficients in the expansion of $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ in the energy basis, then add the usual time-dependence and append each of the coefficients to their corresponding eigenstate in a linear combination.

My question is, what if $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state of our quantum system (does not obey the Schrödinger equation for this particular Hamiltonian)? Am I allowed to choose this as my initial state? If so, how do I know I can expand it in terms of energy eigenstates corresponding, as to my understanding, these form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of possible states for this Hamiltonian, when $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state that lies outside the Hilbert space (does it lie outside the Hilbert spacea given system?).

Even more generally, is the Hilbert space of states for a given system restricted by the Hamiltonian itself?

Let's say that I am in some quantum system defined by Hamiltonian $\hat{H}$. The energy eigenstates of this Hamiltonian form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of all possible states corresponding to this quantum system.

Now, if I have some initial state $|\Psi(0)\rangle$, I can solve for $|\Psi(t)\rangle$ by finding the complex coefficients in the expansion of $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ in the energy basis, then add the usual time-dependence and append each of the coefficients to their corresponding eigenstate in a linear combination.

My question is, what if $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state of our quantum system (does not obey the Schrödinger equation for this particular Hamiltonian)? Am I allowed to choose this as my initial state? If so, how do I know I can expand it in terms of energy eigenstates corresponding to the Hilbert space of possible states for this Hamiltonian, when $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state that lies outside the Hilbert space (does it lie outside the Hilbert space?).

Even more generally, is the Hilbert space of states for a given system restricted by the Hamiltonian itself?

Let's say that I have some quantum system defined by Hamiltonian $\hat{H}$. The energy eigenstates of this Hamiltonian form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of all possible states corresponding to this quantum system.

Now, if I have some initial state $|\Psi(0)\rangle$, I can solve for $|\Psi(t)\rangle$ by finding the complex coefficients in the expansion of $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ in the energy basis, then add the usual time-dependence and append each of the coefficients to their corresponding eigenstate in a linear combination.

My question is, what if $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state of our quantum system (does not obey the Schrödinger equation for this particular Hamiltonian)? Am I allowed to choose this as my initial state? If so, how do I know I can expand it in terms of energy eigenstates, as to my understanding, these form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of possible states for a given system?

Even more generally, is the Hilbert space of states for a given system restricted by the Hamiltonian itself?

Source Link
Jack Ceroni
  • 357
  • 1
  • 11

Unphysical initial state for some quantum system

Let's say that I am in some quantum system defined by Hamiltonian $\hat{H}$. The energy eigenstates of this Hamiltonian form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of all possible states corresponding to this quantum system.

Now, if I have some initial state $|\Psi(0)\rangle$, I can solve for $|\Psi(t)\rangle$ by finding the complex coefficients in the expansion of $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ in the energy basis, then add the usual time-dependence and append each of the coefficients to their corresponding eigenstate in a linear combination.

My question is, what if $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state of our quantum system (does not obey the Schrödinger equation for this particular Hamiltonian)? Am I allowed to choose this as my initial state? If so, how do I know I can expand it in terms of energy eigenstates corresponding to the Hilbert space of possible states for this Hamiltonian, when $|\Psi(0)\rangle$ is an unphysical state that lies outside the Hilbert space (does it lie outside the Hilbert space?).

Even more generally, is the Hilbert space of states for a given system restricted by the Hamiltonian itself?