Questions tagged [normalization]
The normalization tag has no usage guidance.
329
questions
3
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Confusion Regarding the Propagator [duplicate]
To my understanding, the expression $$G^+=\theta(t_f-t_i)\langle x_f|\mathcal{\hat U}(t_f,t_i)|x_i\rangle$$ represents the probability amplitude that a particle starting at position $x_i$ at time $t_i$...
2
votes
1
answer
134
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Normalization of the harmonic oscillator propagator
The propagator of a quantum system is defined by $$\mathcal{K}(t,x;\,t_{0},x_{0})\,\equiv\,\left\langle x\right|\hat{U}(t,\,t_{0})\left|x_{0}\right\rangle.$$ In this notation, the unitarity demands ...
1
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0
answers
59
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Meaning of Scattering-Amplitudes "time-volume"
I've been reading this book by Schwichtenberg as I re-learn QFT. My question is general, but applies easiest to the scattering amplitude at first order in the $\phi^4$-theory for $k_1,k_2\rightarrow ...
0
votes
1
answer
109
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Free particle probability to go from $a$ to $b$ [duplicate]
Feynman and Hibbs write that the probability
for a particle to go from $a$ to $b$ is
\begin{equation*}
P(b,a)=|K(b,a)|^2
\end{equation*}
The kernel for a free particle is given as
\begin{equation*}
K(...
1
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0
answers
70
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Problematic Factor of 2 in Klein-Gordon Propagator Derivation
I want to derive the Klein-Gordon Green function equation
$$(\Box_b + m^2) D_F(x_b - x_a) = - i \delta^4(x_b - x_a)$$
by using the same steps taken when fixing the 'exact' Green function of the non-...
1
vote
0
answers
76
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Sublattice Magnetization of Heisenberg Model on triangular lattice
I'm trying to rederive the expressions for the square of the sublattice magnetization of the $120^\circ$ Neel antiferromagnetic (NAFM) and the stripe phase on the triangular lattice as shown in ...
-1
votes
1
answer
33
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Is unitarity equivalent to linearity plus conservation of the norm?
Unitarity is the condition that the inner product in the Hilbert space is preserved. But if you suppose that the norm of any state is already preserved, then does unitarity follow from linearity? ...
1
vote
1
answer
60
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Expectation Value Definition [closed]
I think I might just not be thinking things completely through here but
I've seen the expectation value of a Hermitian operator written in many sources as both $$\langle A \rangle=\frac{\langle\psi|A| ...
0
votes
1
answer
80
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Normalisation and Dirac's Formulation of the Path Integral
Zee's Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell (Dirac's Formulation in Chapter 1.2) contains the following passage (in attached image). Can someone please explain where the normalization is used in getting ...
0
votes
1
answer
32
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Two normalization constants for Dirac plain wave function
I stumbled across two different expressions for a Dirac plane wave function, namely
$$\psi=\sqrt{\frac{m}{EV}}ue^{-ip\cdot x}$$
and
$$\psi=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2EV}}ue^{-ip\cdot x}$$
where $u$ is the Dirac ...
3
votes
1
answer
117
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How to normalize the states in the continuous limit?
In quantum field theories we can perform the continuous limit, where we take the limit $V\rightarrow\infty$ for the volume system. In quantum optics, we can start by absorbing a factor $\left(\frac{L}{...
5
votes
1
answer
145
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Non-normalizable eigenfunctions
I was reading Shankar's Principles of Quantum Mechanics when on page 65, he starts talking about infinite spaces and operators in them. He introduces an operator $K$, which in the $x$ basis takes the ...
0
votes
0
answers
38
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How should I normalize the histograms for signal vs background study?
I am currently working on a signal vs. background study for some particle physics detector.
I am having a hard time understanding how I should normalize the signal/background histograms such that my ...
1
vote
1
answer
82
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I don't understand the normalization of a quantum state in quantum machine learning paper
In the paper arXiv:1307.0411 by Seth Lloyd, Masoud Mohseni, Patrick Rebentrost
on page 3, line 8, it says: Constructing the $\log_2N$ qubit quantum state $| v \rangle = |\vec{v}|^{-1/2}\vec{v}$ then ...
0
votes
1
answer
54
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How to normalize the symmetrizer of a qudit state?
Notations :
$\mathcal{H}= \mathbb{C}^d \otimes \cdots \otimes \mathbb{C}^d$ where $\mathbb{C}^d$ appears $N$ times.
$S(\mathcal{H})$ is the symmetric subspace of $\mathcal{H}$.
$(|\epsilon_1\rangle,...
2
votes
0
answers
47
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Normalizability of thermal density matrix in QFT
Suppose that I have a system described by a quantum field theory with Hamiltonian $H$ and $U(1)$ charge $Q$. The thermal density matrix is then
$$ \rho = \frac{1}{Z} e^{-(H-\mu Q)/T},\quad Z=Tr(e^{-(H-...
2
votes
2
answers
88
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Why rescale the kinetic term in Wilsonian renormalization?
I have been doing some reading on Wilsonian renormalization and also Effective Field Theories.
It's my understanding, and I could be wrong, that part of the process is to continually rescale the ...
-1
votes
3
answers
144
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Why exactly $\langle x' | x \rangle = \delta(x'-x)$? [duplicate]
If the position state $|x\rangle$ is complete and orthonormal I understand that $$\langle x | y \rangle = \delta(x-y).\tag1$$
However, why exactly $$\langle x' | x \rangle = \delta(x'-x)\tag2$$
How do ...
0
votes
1
answer
81
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What happens to the normalization condition if the wave function is non stationary?
The quantum mechanics courses I have taken as of now pretty much only deal with stationary states of the form:
$$\psi(x,t) = \psi(x)\exp{\left(-\frac{iE}{\hbar}t\right)} $$
Now, what about situations ...
1
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0
answers
32
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Expression of Dirac delta function by integral of exponential function [duplicate]
In many QFT books including Peskin & Schroeder's and M.Schwartz's mention about Fourier transform and representation of Dirac delta function as
$\begin{align}
&f(x) = \int\frac{d^3p}{(2\pi)^3}...
3
votes
2
answers
152
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When do we exclude non-normalizable solutions and when not?
I'm a bit confused on when we should keep any non-normalizable solutions and when not. What do I mean?
Let's say that we have the free particle system. The energy eigenstates are not normalizable - ...
0
votes
1
answer
132
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Normalized units versus dimensionless units
In a molecular dynamics code, suppose, the distances are expressed in units of a characteristic length of the simulated system, $R_0$. In some papers it is written as, " distances are normalized ...
0
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0
answers
22
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Finding the parameter regime over which a phase transition is observable
Suppose, two variables $P$ and $Q$ follow a relation like,
$P=AQ^n$, where $A$ is a constant.
If this relation describes the phase diagram of a system obtained numerically, how can I determine the ...
0
votes
1
answer
117
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How to normalize a wave function for different potential? [closed]
I have 3 different wave functions for 3 different potentials. Basically, this is the intereaction for a diatomic molecule.
$$\psi_1(x) = 0, x<0$$
$$\psi_2(x) = C^{ibx} - C^{-ibx}, 0 \le x \le a$$
$$...
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
How do you use Boltzmanns distribution law?
Considering a particle in an isothermal atmosphere:
$ f \left( h \right) \delta \left( h \right) = A e^{\frac{-m g h}{k T}} \delta \left( h \right)$ where $A$ is the normalisation constant of the pdf.
...
3
votes
1
answer
133
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Wavefunction renormalization $Z_n$ in QM perturbation theory given in J.J. Sakurai's book
I'd been studying introductory quantum mechanics from J.J. Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics, 3rd Edition. I was reading chapter 5, especially about time-independent perturbation theory, non-...
2
votes
1
answer
206
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Peskin and Schroeder's QFT eq. (9.14): Gaussian momentum field integration of phase space path integral
On Peskin and Schroeder's QFT book page 282, the book considered functional quantization of scalar field.
First, begin with
$$\left\langle\phi_b(\mathbf{x})\left|e^{-i H T}\right| \phi_a(\mathbf{x})\...
3
votes
1
answer
142
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Measure of Functional Integral in Path Integral Formulation
I have a question regarding the prefactor $\sqrt{\left(\frac{m}{2\pi i \hbar \Delta t}\right)}$ in $$\left<x'|e^{-iHt}|x\right> = \int D[x] \exp(\frac{i}{\hbar}\int dt' L(x, \dot{x})),$$ where $$...
2
votes
1
answer
59
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Why two energies look same in the relativistic normalization?
I'm reading Peskin's QFT textbook.
In this book, to make normalization of momentum eigenstate Lorentz invariant, we define momentum eigenket as
$$\left| \mathbf{p} \right> = \sqrt{2E_{\mathbf{p}}} ...
-1
votes
1
answer
277
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What is the difference between Dirac delta function orthogonality and Kronecker delta orthogonality?
In the derivation of Bloch Wave, I encountered a problem. First of all this is the definition of Bloch Wave:
$$
\psi_{n\mathbf{k}} (\mathbf{r} ) = e^{i\mathbf{k} \cdot \mathbf{r} } u_{n\mathbf{k}} (\...
2
votes
0
answers
70
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(Srednicki) How to obtain the normalization condition for Dirac field?
I'm reading through srednicki's qft and I met a problem. In its section 41, after he make an assumption that the creation operators of free field
theory would work comparably in the interacting theory ...
0
votes
0
answers
24
views
Chemical potential for BE condensate: why the normalization would (uncorrectly) give $\mu> 0$?
Consider a gas of bosons. Let $g(\epsilon)$ be the distribution of energy levels (degeneracy). Consider the following integral
$$I(\beta,\mu)=\int{d\epsilon g(\epsilon}) \frac{1}{e^{\beta(\epsilon-\mu)...
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0
answers
115
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Normalizing the spherical coordinate wavefunction
I try to normalize the following wave function
$$\psi=C_{n l} e^{-\rho / 2} L_{1}^{2 l+1} Y_{l m}$$
Using the normalization condition
$$ 1 = |C_{nl}|^2 \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-\rho} \rho^2 \{L_{1}^{2l+1}...
-1
votes
1
answer
88
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Normalize the wave function with spherical harmonics [closed]
I have this wave function:
$$\Psi=C e^{-\rho / 2} \rho^{l} L_{1}^{3} Y_{l, m} $$
To normalize the function I have tried to express the polynomial in the function as follows. If:
$$L_{1}^{3}(x)=(-1)^{1}...
2
votes
0
answers
103
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What is the wavefunction of definite position? [duplicate]
Reading the quantum mechanics textbook we are told the wave function for a definite position at $a$ is $\psi(x)=\delta(x-a)$. Yet, also we are told that the probability must be $\int|\psi(x)|^2 dx$=1. ...
1
vote
0
answers
235
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Normalization of solution of Dirac equation
I know that the solution to the dirac equation are of the form:
$\psi(x)=u(\vec{p})e^{ip\cdot x}$ and the spinor can be normalized as
$u^\dagger u =E$. I was reading "Lectures on Quantum Field ...
0
votes
1
answer
509
views
How would I normalize this ket vector? [closed]
So I am given the vector:
$$|Ψa⟩ = |x⟩ + |y⟩ − |z⟩$$
And I need to normalize it. I know that I have to take the dot product of the vector with itself (and it needs to equal 1) but how would I do this ...
5
votes
2
answers
638
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A common standard model Lagrangian mistake?
A common standard model lagrangian is written in a cup like this. It appears in many places also on a T shirt. But isnt that there is an obvious mistake?
That the Dirac lagrangian is already itself ...
0
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1
answer
406
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How to normalize a two-particle state?
Say I have a state of two non-interacting fermions in some system,
$$\Psi_{12}(x_1,x_2)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\Psi_1(x_1)\Psi_2(x_2)+\Psi_1(x_2)\Psi_2(x_1))\otimes\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\uparrow\downarrow-\...
1
vote
1
answer
94
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Probability for scattering event
I am reading Schwartz QFT. On page 61 in eq (5.20) he gives an expression that describes the probability for a $2\to n$ scattering event to happen:
$$dP=\frac{T}{V}\frac{1}{(2E_1)(2 E_2)}\left|\...
0
votes
1
answer
88
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Normalising a free particle wave function, at $t=0$
I am trying to normalise the wave function $\psi$ for a free particle, with initial boundary conditions.
$$\Psi(x,0)=Ae^{-2|x|}.$$
When trying to normalise it, I keep getting $\infty$ which clearly ...
1
vote
3
answers
274
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Questions about normalizing wavefunctions [closed]
learning QM and just have a few questions regarding normalizing wavefunctions.
Thus far, every initial wavefunction that we've normalized has had an undefined constant explicitly put out front (i.e., ...
2
votes
1
answer
100
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Normalizable, but singular distribution
I have obtained a probability distribution for the observable $l$ which takes the form:
$$ \frac{dP}{dl}=\frac{(1-\sqrt{1-3l^{2}})^{2}}{l^{3}\sqrt{1-3l^{2}}}\exp\left[-\frac{4\pi}{9l^{2}}(1-3l^{2})^{3/...
1
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1
answer
101
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Kohn-Sham equations, Sakurai 3rd edition, possible typo?
In Sakurai's quantum mechanics book 3rd edition page 448, equation 7.88, the book writes
"Kohn and Sham found a way to derive a self-consistent approximation scheme, based on single particle ...
0
votes
1
answer
73
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Showing that a wavefunction in column form is normalised [closed]
I am given the following wavefunction in column form:
$\psi = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{1}{4} \\ \sqrt{\frac{15}{16}}i \end{bmatrix} $
And asked to show that it is normalised.
As I understand it, the ...
3
votes
1
answer
295
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Why do we need to normalise states in quantum field theory?
In QM its obvious that we need to normalise quantum states since their inner product squared represents a probability. This normalization leads to physical states in QM being represented by 'rays' of ...
-1
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1
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49
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When do we normalize a wave equation? In what kind of problems/exercises? Why?
I'studying quantum mechanics, and i haven't understand very well, when should we normalize the wave equation?
And why must we normalize it?
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vote
2
answers
406
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Factor $1/\sqrt{2\pi}$ in the normalization of wave function packet
My book has started using the wave packet definition as follows (time independent form):
$$\Psi(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} A(k) \ e^{ikx}dx$$
I do not understand where the $1/\...
2
votes
0
answers
89
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Normalization in vector field in QFT after non-relativistic expansion
I encountered this equation when I was reading the article "Black Hole Superradiance Signatures of Ultralight Vectors"
$$A_\mu=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2m}}\Big(\psi_\mu (\vec{r})\exp(-i\omega t)+\...
0
votes
1
answer
137
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The Density Matrix of a Pure State
It is my understanding that any pure quantum state $|\psi\rangle$ can be represented by the density matrix $|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|$.
It is also my understanding that $|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|$ ...