Simple Bra-Ket Manipulations

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==Possible Manipulations==
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Here <math>\hat{O}</math> is an operator corresponding to some observable (like <math>\hat{H}</math> for energy), and its eigenvalues are <math>\lambda_{n}</math>. The corresponding eigenvectors are <math>\vert\phi_{n}\rangle</math>. <math>\vert\psi\rangle</math> is a generic state ket. <math>a_{n}</math> is the projection of <math>\vert\psi\rangle</math> onto <math>\vert\phi_{n}\rangle</math>. One of the keys to what follows is that the eigenvectors form an orthonormal basis. That just means that any vector can be built from a unique combination of <math>\vert\phi_{1}\rangle,\vert\phi_{2}\rangle,\vert\phi_{3}\rangle,\dots</math>, just like any vector in 3-D space can be built from a unique combination of x, y, and z, or any complex number can be built from 1 and i.
  
Here <math>\hat{O}</math> is an operator corresponding to some observable (like <math>\hat{H}</math> for energy), and its eigenvalues are <math>\lambda_{n}</math>. The corresponding eigenvectors are <math>\vert\phi_{n}\rangle</math>. <math>\vert\psi\rangle</math> is the state ket.
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==Basics==
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===Notation Definitions===
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*<math>\langle\psi\vert=\vert\psi\rangle^{\dagger}</math>
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*<math>\hat{A}\vert\psi\rangle=\vert\hat{A}\psi\rangle</math>
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===From Linear Algebra===
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====For All Vectors and Matrices====
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*<math>(\hat{A}^{\dagger})^{\dagger}=\hat{A}</math>
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*<math>(\hat{A}\hat{B})^{\dagger}=\hat{A}^{\dagger} \hat{B}^{\dagger}</math>
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====For Hermitian Operators====
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*<math></math>

Revision as of 19:02, 25 January 2007

Here \hat{O} is an operator corresponding to some observable (like \hat{H} for energy), and its eigenvalues are λn. The corresponding eigenvectors are \vert\phi_{n}\rangle. \vert\psi\rangle is a generic state ket. an is the projection of \vert\psi\rangle onto \vert\phi_{n}\rangle. One of the keys to what follows is that the eigenvectors form an orthonormal basis. That just means that any vector can be built from a unique combination of \vert\phi_{1}\rangle,\vert\phi_{2}\rangle,\vert\phi_{3}\rangle,\dots, just like any vector in 3-D space can be built from a unique combination of x, y, and z, or any complex number can be built from 1 and i.

Contents

Basics

Notation Definitions

  • \langle\psi\vert=\vert\psi\rangle^{\dagger}
  • \hat{A}\vert\psi\rangle=\vert\hat{A}\psi\rangle

From Linear Algebra

For All Vectors and Matrices

  • (\hat{A}^{\dagger})^{\dagger}=\hat{A}
  • (\hat{A}\hat{B})^{\dagger}=\hat{A}^{\dagger} \hat{B}^{\dagger}

For Hermitian Operators

  • UNIQ33152d511c2adb2a-math-0000000D-QINU
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