phy-4600/book_notes/chap2/operators
2016-02-12 12:26:39 -05:00

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Eigenvalue equations for the S𝓏 operator in a spin-1/2 system:
S𝓏|+> = +ħ/2|+>
S𝓏|-> = -ħ/2|->
Matrix form of an operator:
S𝓏 ≐ ( a b )
( c d )
Eigenvalue equations in matrix form:
( a b )( 1 ) = +ħ/2 ( 1 )
( c d )( 0 ) ( 0 )
( a b )( 0 ) = -ħ/2 ( 0 )
( c d )( 1 ) ( 1 )
Can show with matrix multiplication operations that
S𝓏 ≐ ħ/2 ( 1 0 )
( 0 -1 )
Some Properties:
An operator is always diagonal in its own basis.
Eigenvectors are unit vectirs in their own basis.
S𝓏 ≐ ħ/2 ( 1 0 ) |+> = ( 1 ) |-> = ( 0 )
( 0 -1 ) ( 0 ) ( 1 )
Diagonalizing an Operator
Diagonize a matrix --> find the eigenvalues and eigenvector
S𝓍 ≐ ħ/2 ( 0 1 )
( 1 0 )
(1) 12 ⁵⁄ₐ