Quantum Mechanical Pictures

Pictures

Properties

Expectation Value Equivalence

\(\langle A\rangle_S = \langle \alpha,t_0;t|A_S|\alpha,t_0;t\rangle = \langle \alpha,t_0|\hat{U}^\dagger A_S\hat{U}|\alpha,t_0\rangle = \langle A_H\rangle\).

Examples

Equations of Motion

\(\hat{H} = \frac{\hat{P}_x^2+\hat{P}_y^2 + \hat{P}_z^2}{2m}\).

Then, \(\frac{d}{dt}P_i = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[\hat{P}_i,\hat{H}] = 0\).

And, \(\frac{d}{dt}R_i = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[\hat{R}_i,\hat{H}] = \frac{P_i}{m}\).

Since, momentum is a constant of the motion (\(P_i=C_i\)), \(\hat{R}_i(t) = \hat{R}_i(0) + \frac{\hat{P}_i}{m}t\).

With a Potential - Ehrenfest Theorem Roots

\(\hat{H} = \frac{\hat{P}_x^2+\hat{P}_y^2 + \hat{P}_z^2}{2m} + \hat{V}(R)\).

Then, \(\frac{d}{dt}P_i = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[\hat{P}_i,\hat{H}] = -\frac{\partial}{\partial R_i}\hat{V}(R)\), by Virial Theorem.

And, \(\frac{d}{dt}R_i = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[\hat{R}_i,\hat{H}] = \frac{P_i}{m}\).

\(\frac{d^2}{dt^2}R_i = \frac{1}{m}\frac{d}{dt}P_i = \frac{1}{m}\nabla_i\hat{V}(R)\).

Thus, we have Ehrenfest Theorem, \(m\frac{d^2}{dt^2}\vec{R} = -\vec{\nabla}\hat{V}(\vec{R})\).

Author: Christian Cunningham

Created: 2024-05-30 Thu 21:20

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