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Questions tagged [quantum-mechanics]

For questions on quantum mechanics, a branch of physics dealing with physical phenomena at microscopic scales.

16 votes
4 answers
2k views

Orthogonal projections with $\sum P_i =I$, proving that $i\ne j \Rightarrow P_{j}P_{i}=0$

I am reading Introduction to Quantum Computing by Kaye, Laflamme, and Mosca. As an exercise, they write "Prove that if the operators $P_{i}$ satisfy $P_{i}^{*}=P_{i}$ and $P_{i}^{2}=P_{i}$ , then $P_{...
user14717's user avatar
  • 4,912
10 votes
3 answers
16k views

Fourier Representation of Dirac's Delta Function

This question is related to this other question on Phys.SE. In quantum mechanics is often useful to use the following statement: $$\int_{-\infty}^\infty dx\, e^{ikx} = 2\pi \delta(k)$$ where $\delta(k)...
Noumeno's user avatar
  • 353
18 votes
5 answers
6k views

Quantum mechanical books for mathematicians

I'm a mathematician. I have good knowledge of superior analysis, distribution theory, Hilbert spaces, Sobolev spaces, and applications to PDE theory. I also have good knowledge of differential ...
user288972's user avatar
  • 2,390
23 votes
4 answers
2k views

Correct spaces for quantum mechanics

The general formulation of quantum mechanics is done by describing quantum mechanical states by vectors $|\psi_t(x)\rangle$ in some Hilbert space $\mathcal{H}$ and describes their time evolution by ...
Daniel Robert-Nicoud's user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
4k views

Quantum mechanics for mathematicians

I'm looking for books about quantum mechanics (or related fields) that are written for mathematicians or are more mathematically inclined. Of course, the field is very big so I'm in particular ...
8 votes
1 answer
6k views

Clean proof of Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff Formula

I am thinking of the cleanest way to prove the BCH formula and I have come up with this. First, work out $e^{\lambda A}Be^{-\lambda A}$ by expanding the exponentials (sums go from $0$ to $\infty$): $$\...
dnvlz's user avatar
  • 171
5 votes
1 answer
589 views

If the expectation $\langle v,Mv \rangle$ of an operator is $0$ for all $v$ is the operator $0$?

I ran into this a while back and convinced my self that it was true for all finite dimensional vector spaces with complex coefficients. My question is to what extent could I trust this result in the ...
Spencer's user avatar
  • 12.4k
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Books on Perturbation Methods

I am having problems finding descent books on perturbation methods. I am looking for a book which covers; asymptotic expansions, matched Asymptotic expansions, Laplace's Method, Method of steepest ...
Quantum spaghettification's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
759 views

Nielsen & Chuang, exercise 2.73 — Density matrix proving the minimum ensemble

I've been trying to solve exercise 2.73 (p.g 105) in Nielsen Chuang, and I'm not sure if i'v been overthinking it and the answer is as simple as i've described below or if I am missing something, or i'...
Sam Palmer's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
149 views

Explanation of this integral

$$ \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \mathrm{e}^{-\frac{\mathrm{i}}{\hbar}\left(p - p'\,\right)x} \,\,\,\mathrm{d}x = 2\pi\hbar\,\delta\left(p - p'\right) $$ I don't quite understand how this integration leads ...
Ka Wa Yip's user avatar
  • 938
34 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why do odd dimensions and even dimensions behave differently?

It is well known that odd and even dimensions work differently. Waves propagation in odd dimensions is unlike propagation in even dimensions. A parity operator is a rotation in even dimensions, but ...
Potato's user avatar
  • 40.4k
21 votes
7 answers
14k views

Mathematics needed in the study of Quantum Physics

As a 12th grade student , I'm currently acquainted with single variable calculus, algebra, and geometry, obviously on a high school level. I tried taking a Quantum Physics course on coursera.com, but ...
Victor's user avatar
  • 3,212
6 votes
5 answers
4k views

How to prove $e^{A \oplus B} = e^A \otimes e^B$ where $A$ and $B$ are matrices? (Kronecker operations)

How to prove that $e^{A \oplus B} = $$e^A \otimes e^B$? Here $A$ and $B$ are $n\times n$ and $m \times m$ matrices, $\otimes$ is the Kronecker product and $\oplus$ is the Kronecker sum: $$ A \oplus B =...
Adam Staples's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Regarding Ladder Operators and Quantum Harmonic Oscillators

When dealing with the Quantum Harmonic Oscillator Operator $H=-\frac{d^{2}}{dx^{2}}+x^{2}$, there is the approach of using the Ladder Operator: Suppose that are two operators $L^{+}$ and $L^{-}$ and ...
Xiaowen Li's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
169 views

Tensor product in dual-space

I am a bid confused regarding the notation for tensor products when going into dual-space If $\left| \Psi \rangle \right. = \left| A \rangle \right. \left| B \rangle \right.$ is $ \left. \langle \Psi ...
Casper's user avatar
  • 53

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