Behaviour of an Exponential Commutation

In summary, the conversation discusses a commutation relation in a proof from Nakahara's "Geometry, Topology and Physics" and how it relates to the following line in the text. The question is raised about how the partial derivative acts on the exponential function and the possibility of missing a key result on exponentials of commutation relationships in the book. A hint is given to use the power series expansion of an exponential function to solve the problem.
  • #1
d.hatch75
17
0

Homework Statement


Forgive the awkward title, it was hard to think how to describe the problem in such a short space. I'm following the proof of Proposition 1.2 of Nakahara's "Geometry, Topology and Physics", and the following commutation relation has been established:

[itex]\partial_x^n e^{ikx} = e^{ikx}(ik + \partial_x )^n[/itex]

The line immediately afterwards is:

[itex]e^{-i\epsilon \{-\partial_x^2 / 2m + V(x)\}}e^{ikx} = e^{ikx}e^{-i\epsilon \{-(ik+\partial_x )^2 / 2m + V(x)\}}[/itex]

I am not seeing how this follows from the previous relation, since the partial derivative is in the exponential so surely it doesn't act on [itex]e^{ikx}[/itex] in the same way? It seems dodgy, but I can only assume I'm missing some important result concerning exponentials of commutation relationships that hasn't otherwise been specified anywhere in the book as far as I can tell.

Homework Equations


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The Attempt at a Solution


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  • #2
hint: try using the power series expansion of an exponential function.
 

Related to Behaviour of an Exponential Commutation

1. What is an exponential commutation?

An exponential commutation is a mathematical concept that describes the process of changing from one state to another at a continuously increasing rate. In other words, the change in the state or behavior of a system is proportional to its current state.

2. How is exponential commutation different from linear commutation?

Exponential commutation is different from linear commutation in that the rate of change is not constant, but rather increases or decreases continuously. In linear commutation, the change is constant and does not vary over time.

3. What are some real-world examples of exponential commutation?

Some real-world examples of exponential commutation include population growth, compound interest, and radioactive decay. In each of these cases, the rate of change increases or decreases over time, leading to an exponential growth or decay.

4. What is the significance of exponential commutation in science?

Exponential commutation is significant in science because it helps to describe and predict the behavior of many natural phenomena, such as population growth, epidemics, and chemical reactions. It is also used in various fields of study, including biology, economics, and physics.

5. How can we model and analyze exponential commutation?

Exponential commutation can be modeled and analyzed using mathematical equations and graphs. The most common equation used is the exponential function y = ab^x, where a represents the initial value and b represents the rate of change. Graphs can also be used to visualize and understand the behavior of an exponential commutation over time.

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