# Read about density operator | 8 Discussions | Page 1

1. ### A Von Neumann Entropy of a joint state

Definition 1 The von Neumann entropy of a density matrix is given by $$S(\rho) := - Tr[\rho ln \rho] = H[\lambda (\rho)]$$ where ##H[\lambda (\rho)]## is the Shannon entropy of the set of probabilities ##\lambda (\rho)## (which are eigenvalues of the density operator ##\rho##). Definition 2 If...
2. ### Partial traces of density operators in the tensor product

Homework Statement Consider a system formed by particles (1) and (2) of same mass which do not interact among themselves and that are placed in a potential of infinite well type with width a. Let H(1) and H(2) be the individual hamiltonians and denote |\varphi_n(1)\rangle and...
3. ### I Qubit mixed state density matrix coordinates on a Bloch ball

What are the coordinates on the 3D Bloch ball of a qubit's mixed state of the form: ##\rho=p_{00}|0\rangle \langle 0|+p_{01}|0\rangle \langle 1|+p_{10}|1\rangle \langle 0|+p_{11}|1\rangle \langle 1|##
4. ### Density matrix spin half, Pauli vector

A nice discussion of the density operator for a qubit can be found here: http://www.vcpc.univie.ac.at/~ian/hotlist/qc/talks/bloch-sphere-rotations.pdf
5. ### Decoherence in the long time limit of density matrix element

For a state |\Psi(t)\rangle = \sum_{k}c_k e^{-iE_kt/\hbar}|E_k\rangle , the density matrix elements in the energy basis are \rho_{ab}(t) = c_a c^*_be^{-it(E_a -E_b)/\hbar} How is it that in the long time limit, this reduces to \rho_{ab}(t) \approx |c_a|^2 \delta_{ab} ? Is there some...
6. ### Matrix form of Density Operator

Hi All, I have spent hours trying to understand the matrix form of Density Operator. But, I fail. Please see page 2 of the attached file. (from the book "Quantum Mechanics - The Theoretical Minimum" page 199). Most appreciated if someone could enlighten me this. Many thanks in advance. Peter Yu
7. ### Why the formula (it is the density operator in its initial state) below has this form?

a In the formula above, on the left hand side, ρ(0) is a system's density operator in its initial state. a is the annihilator operator of the system, and a+ is the create operator of the system. ρss is the system's density operator in its steady state. But I don't understand why this formula...
8. ### Microcanonical ensemble density matrix

Ref: R.K Pathria Statistical mechanics (third edition sec 5.2A) First it is argued that the density matrix for microcanonical will be diagonal with all diagonal elements equal in the energy representation. Then it is said that this general form should remain the same in all representations. i.e...