Quantum vaccum one dimensional?

physicsx0rz
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Hello.
Is a quantum vacuum 1 dimensional?
Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The quantum vacuum is a state in an infinite dimensional Hilbert space. To be more specific, the vacuum is the eigenstate of the Hamiltonian operator with the lowest energy eigenvalue. A more appropriate name for 'vacuum', often used in nonrelativistic QM is ground state.

If the Hilbert space of the system is spanned by the eigenstates of a single position operator X we say the system under consideration has one spatial degree of freedom. For such a system, the wavefunction corresponding to the vaccuum/ground state |O> is a function of one spatial variable x: Psi_0 (x) = <x|O> . Here |x> denotes eigenstate of the operator X with eigenvalue x.

If the system has 3 spatial degrees of freedom, its Hilbert space is spanned by eigenstates of 3 position operators X, Y, Z that mutually commute. Correspondingly the wavefunction of the ground state, Psi_0(x,y,z) = <x,y,z|O> is a function of 3 spatial variables x, y, z. Here |x,y,z> is the commont eigenstate of operators X, Y, Z of eigenvalues x, y, z.
 
Last edited:
I'm lost, but I expected to be. I'm very physics illiterate and just starting to learn.
Thanks for the reply.
 
Not an expert in QM. AFAIK, Schrödinger's equation is quite different from the classical wave equation. The former is an equation for the dynamics of the state of a (quantum?) system, the latter is an equation for the dynamics of a (classical) degree of freedom. As a matter of fact, Schrödinger's equation is first order in time derivatives, while the classical wave equation is second order. But, AFAIK, Schrödinger's equation is a wave equation; only its interpretation makes it non-classical...
I asked a question related to a table levitating but I am going to try to be specific about my question after one of the forum mentors stated I should make my question more specific (although I'm still not sure why one couldn't have asked if a table levitating is possible according to physics). Specifically, I am interested in knowing how much justification we have for an extreme low probability thermal fluctuation that results in a "miraculous" event compared to, say, a dice roll. Does a...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. Towards the end of the first lecture for the Qiskit Global Summer School 2025, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Olivia Lanes (Global Lead, Content and Education IBM) stated... Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/quantum-entanglement-is-a-kinematic-fact-not-a-dynamical-effect/ by @RUTA

Similar threads

Replies
29
Views
2K
Replies
61
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
0
Views
1K
Back
Top