# Expectation value of derivative of operator

I was given the following question:

Let $$A(\lambda)$$ be a Hermitian operator, which is dependent on some real parameter $$\lambda$$. Let us denote the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenstates of $$A$$ with $$a_k(\lambda), |u_k(\lambda)\rangle$$. Show that: $$\frac{da_k}{d\lambda}=\langle\frac{dA}{d\lambda}\rangle_{|u_k(\lambda)\rangle}$$

This is the solution I suggested:

I wanted to know if my solution is correct. I'm not entirely sure that my final step is valid (since the normalized magnitude of the eigenvector is only a convention, it seems strange to use this in such a general context).

Moreover, I wanted to know if there is a name for this result, or if you know of a source where I can read more about it and its implications.

The last step is wrong, but the problem is not that you require that the $$\left| u_k \right>$$ be normalized which can always be done without loss of generality. The problem is that $$\left< \partial_\lambda u_k \middle| u_k \right>$$ can be non-zero (however, it will always be imaginary, and since $$a_k$$ is real the second term will vanish nevertheless).
Assuming normalized states, we get (dropping the index $$k$$ for brevity): $$0 = \partial_\lambda \left< u \middle| u \right> = \left< \partial_\lambda u \middle| u \right> + \left< u \middle| \partial_\lambda u \right> = \left< \partial_\lambda u \middle| u \right> + \left< \partial_\lambda u \middle| u \right>^*.$$ And for a complex number $$a + a^* = 0$$ does not imply that $$a = 0$$, but only that $$\text{Re}\,a = 0$$.
If the states were not normalized, you would have to adapt your expression for the expectation value from the beginning, and use $$\left< A \right>_\psi = \frac{\left<\psi \middle| A \middle| \psi \right>}{\left< \psi \middle | \psi \right>},$$ and then you can check that everything still works out.
Also note, that the normalization is used before the last step, for example $$\left< u_k \middle| A(\lambda) \middle| u_k \right> = a_k(\lambda)$$ does only hold if the $$\left|u_k\right>$$ are normalized, in general: $$\left< u_k \middle| A(\lambda) \middle| u_k \right> = \left< u_k \middle| a_k(\lambda) \middle| u_k \right> = a_k(\lambda) \left< u_k \middle | u_k \right>$$
Story time: The non-vanishing of the imaginary part of $$\left< u_k \middle| \partial_\lambda u_k \right>$$ plays a prominent role in the expression for the density of the Berry phase, when considering the evolution of a quantum system subject to adiabatically changing external parameters $$\lambda$$.