# Expectation value and Dispersion of an Operator

Suppose we have an operator $Q$ with eigenvalue $q$. Expectation value is $\langle Q \rangle$ and dispersion $D(Q) = \sqrt{\langle \left( Q - \langle Q \rangle \right)^2 \rangle}$. I want to find values for the expectation value and dispersion.

Attempt

Expectation value is simply the average value of the observable associated with $Q$ right? Dispersion is the variance of the observable associated with $Q$ right?

$$\langle Q \rangle = \langle \psi | Q |\psi \rangle = q \langle \psi|\psi \rangle = q$$

$$D(Q) = \sqrt{\langle \left( Q - \langle Q \rangle \right)^2 \rangle} = \sqrt{ \langle Q^2 -2Q \langle Q\rangle + \langle Q \rangle^2 \rangle } = \sqrt{ \langle Q^2 - 2Qq + q^2 \rangle }$$

Now $\langle Q^2 \rangle = q^2$ by applying $Q$ twice.

Does this mean that $$D(Q) = 0$$?

$$D(Q) = \sqrt{ \langle Q^2\rangle - \langle Q\rangle^2 }$$
Both those terms are the same. So $D(Q)$ is zero.
• Then what's the dispersion $D(x)$ of this wavefunction? $\left( \frac{2}{\pi a^2} \right)^{\frac{1}{4}} exp\left(-\frac{x^2}{a^2} + ikx \right)$ ? Surely it can't be zero. Jun 19 '14 at 17:06