What is Expectation value: Definition and 346 Discussions

In quantum mechanics, the expectation value is the probabilistic expected value of the result (measurement) of an experiment. It can be thought of as an average of all the possible outcomes of a measurement as weighted by their likelihood, and as such it is not the most probable value of a measurement; indeed the expectation value may have zero probability of occurring (e.g. measurements which can only yield integer values may have a non-integer mean). It is a fundamental concept in all areas of quantum physics.

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  1. S

    Expectation Value and Probabilities of Spin Operator Sy

    Homework Statement (a) If a particle is in the spin state ## χ = 1/5 \begin{pmatrix} i \\ 3 \\ \end{pmatrix} ## , calculate the expectation value <Sy>(b) If you measured the observable Sy on the particle in spin state given in (a), what values might you get and what is the probability of...
  2. renec112

    QM: expectation value and variance of harmonic oscillator

    Homework Statement A particle is moving in a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, described by the Hamilton operator: H = \hbar \omega (a_+ a_- + \frac{1}{2}) at t = 0 we have \Psi(x,0) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(\psi_0(x)+i\psi_1(x)) Find the expectation value and variance of harmonic oscillator...
  3. D

    Expectation Value of Q in orthonormal basis set Psi

    Homework Statement Suppose that { |ψ1>, |ψ2>,...,|ψn>} is an orthonormal basis set and all of the basis vectors are eigenvectors of the operator Q with Q|ψj> = qj|ψj> for all j = 1...n. A particle is in the state |Φ>. Show that for this particle the expectation value of <Q> is ∑j=1nqj |<Φ|...
  4. Mehmood_Yasir

    I Conditional Expectation Value of Poisson Arrival in Fixed T

    Assume a Poisson process with rate ##\lambda##. Let ##T_{1}##,##T_{2}##,##T_{3}##,... be the time until the ##1^{st}, 2^{nd}, 3^{rd}##,...(so on) arrivals following exponential distribution. If I consider the fixed time interval ##[0-T]##, what is the expectation value of the arrival time...
  5. TheBigDig

    Expectation value of mean momentum from ground state energy

    1. The problem statement Consider a particle of mass m under the action of the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential. The Hamiltonian is given by H = \frac{p^2}{2m} + \frac{m \omega ^2 x^2}{2} Knowing that the ground state of the particle at a certain instant is described by the wave...
  6. Y

    I Expectation value of energy in TISE

    If Eψ = Hψ, then why is expected energy ∫ψ*Hψ dx? It makes more sense if I see the ψ on the right side of H as the ψ in ∫Q(ψ*ψ) dx, where Q is some quantity we want to measure the expectation of. But if true, then since H is defined as (h2/2m) (d2/dx) + V, then what does it mean to calculate...
  7. I

    Calculate expectation value of entangled 2 state system?

    Homework Statement Homework Equations I know that there are two eigenstates of the operator C: |B> = (1 0) as a column vector with eigenvalue 1 |R> = (0 1) also a column vector with eigenvalue -1 The Attempt at a Solution My work is shown here: If anyone could point me in the right...
  8. N

    Cross-correlation of white noise process with its conjugate

    If w[n] are samples of the white gaussian noise process, I know that E[w[n1] w[n2]] = 0 for a WGN process. what would the following expression lead to: E[w[n1] w*[n2]] = ? Would it also be zero? Thanks a lot!
  9. A

    I Help with an expectation value formula

    Imagine a particle in an equally weighted superposition of being located in three distant regions P, Q, and R, and imagine you stand in region P with a measuring device. The probability of finding the particle there is 1/3. Now imagine a large number N of particles prepared in that same state...
  10. redtree

    B The expectation value of superimposed probability functions

    I apologize for the simplicity of the question (NOT homework). This is a statistical question (not necessarily a quantum mechanical one). If I have an initial probability function with an associated expected value and then a second probability function is superimposed on the initial...
  11. i_hate_math

    I The symmetry argument and expectation value

    In 1D QM: I understand that if a given potential well, U(x), is symmetric about x = L, then the expectation value for operator [x] would be <x> = L. (I am not even entirely sure why this is, guessing that the region where x<L and x>L are equally probable) Is it possible to draw conclusion...
  12. S

    Quantum Mechanics; Expectation value

    Homework Statement At t=0, the system is in the state . What is the expectation value of the energy at t=0? I'm not sure if this is straight forward scalar multiplication, surprised if it was, but we didn't cover this in class really, just glossed through it. If someone could walk me through...
  13. R

    Chi-square goodness of fit cannot find expected values

    Homework Statement An article in Business Week reports profits and losses of firms by industry. A random sample of 100 firms is selected, and for each firm in the sample, we record whether the company made money or lost money, and whether or not the firm is a service company. The data are...
  14. digogalvao

    Proof of expectation value for a dynamic observable

    Homework Statement Show that: d<A(q,p)>/dt=<{A,H}>, where {A,H} is a Poisson Bracket Homework Equations Liouville theorem The Attempt at a Solution <A>=Tr(Aρ)⇒d<A>/dt=Tr(Adρ/dt)=Tr(A{H,ρ}) So, in order to get the correct result, Tr(A{H,ρ}) must be equal to Tr({A,H}ρ), but I don't think I can...
  15. U

    Hamiltonian operator affecting observable

    I'm working on this problem "Consider an experiment on a system that can be described using two basis functions. In this experiment, you begin in the ground state of Hamiltonian H0 at time t1. You have an apparatus that can change the Hamiltonian suddenly from H0 to H1. You turn this apparatus...
  16. B

    Time dependent expectation value problems

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I tried to solve (a), but i don't know which approach is right ((1) or (2)) and how to solve (b).[/B]
  17. Cocoleia

    Proving the expectation value of any eigenvalue function

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution When I take the second formula, multiply by it's conjugate and then by x and do the integral of the first formula, I get 0, and not L/2, for <x>. Am I missing a formula ? The complex conjugate of the exponential part...
  18. S

    I Which ψ do I use for the Expectation Value ?

    I have to calculate the Expectation Value of an Energy Eigenstate : < En > The integral is ∫ ψ* En ψ dx I have : A ) ψ = √L/2 sin nπx/L , a single standing wave of the wave function B ) ψ = BsinBcosD , the wave function of the particle C ) ψ = ΣCn ψn = C , sum of all the...
  19. Kenneth Adam Miller

    I Expectation value with imaginary component?

    Hello, I'm a beginner at quantum mechanics. I'm working through problems of the textbook A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics without a professor since I am not going to college right now, so I need a brief bit of help on problem 1.10. Everything else I have gotten right so far, but I am...
  20. Fetchimus

    Infinite Square Well homework problem

    Homework Statement A particle of mass m, is in an infinite square well of width L, V(x)=0 for 0<x<L, and V(x)=∞, elsewhere. At time t=0,Ψ(x,0) = C[((1+i)/2)*√(2/L)*sin(πx/L) + (1/√L)*sin(2πx/L) in, 0<x<L a) Find C b) Find Ψ(x,t) c) Find <E> as a function of t. d) Find the probability as a...
  21. D

    Expectation values of the quantum harmonic oscillator

    Homework Statement Show the mean position and momentum of a particle in a QHO in the state ψγ to be: <x> = sqrt(2ħ/mω) Re(γ) <p> = sqrt (2ħmω) Im(γ) Homework Equations ##\psi_{\gamma} (x) = Dexp((-\frac{mw(x-<x>)^2}{2\hbar})+\frac{i<p>(x-<x>)}{ħ})##The Attempt at a Solution I put ψγ into...
  22. Tspirit

    I Can the expectation of an operator be imaginary?

    Assume ##\varPsi## is an arbitrary quantum state, and ##\hat{O}## is an arbitrary quantum operator, can the expectation $$\int\varPsi^{*}\hat{O}\varPsi$$ be imaginary?
  23. A

    How to find expectation value for combined state?

    Homework Statement Given ##\psi = AR_{21}[BY_1^1 + BY_1^{-1} + CY_1^0]##, find ##\left<L_z\right>## and ##\left<L^2\right>##. (This is not the beginning of the homework problem, but I know my work is correct up to here. I am not looking for a solution, only an answer as to whether or not my...
  24. Y

    Time Inversion Symmetry and Angular Momentum

    Homework Statement Let ##\left|\psi\right\rangle## be a non-degenerate stationary state, i.e. an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian. Suppose the system exhibits symmetry for time inversion, but not necessarily for rotations. Show that the expectation value for the angular momentum operator is zero...
  25. S

    Expectation value in coherent state

    Homework Statement In a coherent state ##|\alpha\rangle##, letting ##P(n)## denote the probability of finding ##n^{\text{th}}## harmomic oscillator state. Show that $$\displaystyle{\langle\hat{n}\rangle \equiv \sum\limits_{n}n\ P(n)=|\alpha|^{2}}$$ Homework Equations The Attempt at a...
  26. V

    Bohr frequency of an expectation value?

    Homework Statement Consider a two-state system with a Hamiltonian defined as \begin{bmatrix} E_1 &0 \\ 0 & E_2 \end{bmatrix} Another observable, ##A##, is given (in the same basis) by \begin{bmatrix} 0 &a \\ a & 0 \end{bmatrix} where ##a\in\mathbb{R}^+##. The initial state of the system...
  27. J

    I Free Particle: Time dependence of expectation values Paradox

    It would be really appreciated if somebody could clarify something for me: I know that stationary states are states of definite energy. But are all states of definite energy also stationary state? This question occurred to me when I considered the free particle(plane wave, not a Gaussian...
  28. J

    I Expectation value of momentum for free particle

    Hello! Could somebody please tell me how i can compute the expectation value of the momentum in the case of a free particle(monochromatic wave)? When i take the integral, i get infinity, but i have seen somewhere that we know how much the particle's velocity is, so i thought that we can get it...
  29. entropy1

    I Expectation value in terms of density matrix

    It says in Susskind's TM: ##\langle L \rangle = Tr \; \rho L = \sum_{a,a'}L_{a',a} \rho_{a,a'}## with ##a## the index of a basisvector, ##L## an observable and ##\rho## a density matrix. Is this correct? What about the trace in the third part of this equation?
  30. M

    Expectation value and momentum for an infinite square well

    Homework Statement √[/B] A particle in an infinite square well has the initial wave function: Ψ(x, 0) = A x ( a - x ) a) Normalize Ψ(x, 0) b) Compute <x>, <p>, and <H> at t = 0. (Note: you cannot get <p> by differentiating <x> because you only know <x> at one instance of time)Homework...
  31. Smalde

    QM: Time development of the probability of an Eigenvalue

    The problem is actually of an introductory leven in Quantum Mechanics. I am doing a course on atomic and molecular physics and they wanted us to practice again some of the basics. I want to know where I went conceptually wrong because my answer doesn't give a total probability of one, which of...
  32. Q

    Expectation Value- Mean Time to Failure

    Homework Statement (a) Suppose we flip a fair coin until two Tails in a row come up. What is the expected number, NTT, of flips we perform? Hint: Let D be the tree diagram for this process. Explain why D = H · D + T · (H · D + T). Use the Law of Total Expectation (b) Suppose we flip a fair...
  33. S

    I Difference between expectation value and eigenvalue

    There is another topic for this but I didn't quite see it and I don't know how I've gone so far through my course not asking this simple question. So what's the difference? My thought process for hydrogen. I know it can have quantised values of energy, the energy values are the Eigen values of...
  34. Z

    Is the differential in the momentum operator commutative?

    As it says; I was looking over some provided solutions to a problem set I was given and noticed that, in finding the expectation value for the momentum operator of a given wavefunction, the following (constants/irrelevant stuff taken out) happened in the integrand...
  35. J

    A Higgs Expectation Value with Classical vs Quantum Potential

    I'm having a hard time following the arguments of how the Higgs gives mass in the Standard Model. In particular, the textbook by Srednicki gives the Higgs potential as: $$V(\phi)=\frac{\lambda}{4}(\phi^\dagger \phi-\frac{1}{2}\nu^2)^2 $$ and states that because of this, $$\langle 0 | \phi(x)...
  36. B

    Expectation Value of Hamiltonian with Superposition

    Homework Statement [/B] Particle in one dimensional box, with potential ##V(x) = 0 , 0 \leq x \leq L## and infinity outside. ##\psi (x,t) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{8}} (\sqrt{5} \psi_1 (x,t) + i \sqrt{3} \psi_3 (x,t))## Calculate the expectation value of the Hamilton operator ##\hat{H}## . Compare it...
  37. G

    Harmonic oscillator positive position expectation value?

    So this is something that troubled me a bit- in Shankar's PQM, there's an exercise that asks you to find the position expectation value for the harmonic oscillator in a state \psi such that \psi=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0\rangle+|1\rangle) Where |n\rangle is the n^{th} energy eigenstate of...
  38. phys-student

    Finding expectation values for given operators

    Homework Statement The Hamiltonian of an electron in solids is given by H. We know that H is an Hermitian operator, it satisfies the following eigenvalue equation: H|Φn> = εn|Φn> Let us define the following operators in terms of H as: U = e^[(iHt)/ħ] , S = sin[(Ht)/ħ] , G = (ε -...
  39. T

    Calculating expectation value of U

    Homework Statement ## H ## is the Hamiltonian of an electron and is a Hermitian operator. It satisfies the following equation: ##H |\phi_n\rangle = E_n |\phi_n\rangle ## Let ## U = e^{\frac {iHt}{\hbar}} ##. Find the expectation value of U in state ##|\phi_n\rangle## Homework Equations ##...
  40. B

    About the expectation value of position of a particle

    I am following Griffiths' intro to quantum mechanics and struggling(already) on page 16. When a particle is in state ##\Psi##, $$\frac{d<x>}{dt} = \frac{i\hbar}{2m}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} x\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\bigg (\Psi^*\frac{\partial \Psi}{\partial x}-\frac{\partial \Psi^*}{\partial...
  41. Clarky48

    Dirac notation - expectation value of kinetic energy

    It's my first post so big thanks in advance :) 1. Homework Statement So the question states "By interpreting <pxΨ|pxΨ> in terms of an integral over x, express <Ekin> in terms of an integral involving |∂Ψ/∂x|. Confirm explicitly that your answer cannot be negative in value." ##The 'px's should...
  42. M

    Why Does ½ Factor in HF Expectation Value?

    I am not sure why a factor of (½) appears in front of the summation over orbitals, i, j to N, of the Coulomb and exchange integrals in the HF energy expectation value.
  43. H

    Why Do Single Source Diagrams Matter in Vacuum Expectation Value Calculations?

    Srednicki page 65 it says "Let us compute the vacuum expectation value of the field $$\phi(x)$$ which is given by $$\langle 0| \phi (x)|0 \rangle = \frac{\delta}{\delta J(x)} Z_{1}(J) |_{J=0}$$ This expression is then the sum of all diagrams that have a single source, with the source removed."...
  44. D

    Expectation value of spin 1/2 particles along different axes

    Homework Statement Show that for a two spin 1/2 particle system, the expectation value is \langle S_{z1} S_{n2} \rangle = -\frac{\hbar^2}{4}\cos \theta when the system is prepared to be in the singlet state...
  45. M

    Expectation value of observable in Bell State

    Homework Statement Consider the bipartite observable O_AB = (sigma_A · n) ⊗ (sigma_B · m) Where n and m are three vectors and sigma_i = (sigma_1_i, sigma_2_i, sigma_3_i) with i = [A,B] are the Pauli vectors. Compute using abstract and matrix representation the expectation value of O_AB...
  46. T

    Calculating Expectation Values for Independent Random Variables

    Homework Statement If X1 has mean -3 and variance 2 while X2 has mean 5 and variance 4 and the two are independent find a) E(X1 - X2) b) Var(X1 - X2)The Attempt at a Solution I am not very clear on what I am supposed to be doing for this problem. I don't fully understand this expectation value...
  47. ognik

    MHB Is <L^2> always greater than or equal to 0 for a Hermitian operator?

    I'm given an operator $\mathcal{L}$ is Hermitian, and asked to show $<\mathcal{L}^2>$ is $\ge 0$ I believe $<\mathcal{L}>$ is the expectation value, $=\int_{}^{}\Psi^* \mathcal{L} \Psi \,d\tau $ (Side issue: I am not sure what $d\tau $ is, perhaps a small region of space? And the interval?) I...
  48. B

    QM: Expectation value of raising and lowering operator

    Homework Statement Using J^2 \mid j,m_z \rangle = h^2 j(j+1) \mid j,m_z \rangle J_z \mid j,m_z \rangle = hm_z \mid j,m_z \rangle Derive that : \langle j,m_z \mid J_-J_+ \mid j,m_z \rangle = h^2[ j(j+1) - m_z(m_z+1)] Homework Equations J_- = J_x - iJ_y J_+ = J_x + iJ_y The...
  49. AwesomeTrains

    Maximum position expectation value for 1D harmonic oscillator

    Hey, I'm stuck halfway through the solution it seems. I could use some tips on how to continue. 1. Homework Statement I have to determine a linear combination of the states |0\rangle, |1\rangle, of a one dimensional harmonic oscillator, so that the expectation value \langle x \rangle is a...
  50. M

    Expectation value of momentum in symmetric 2D H.O

    Homework Statement Consider the following inital states of the symmetric 2D harmonic oscillator ket (phi 1) = 1/sqrt(2) (ket(0)_x ket(1)_y + ket (1)_x ket (0)_y) ket (phi 2) = 1/sqrt(2) (ket(0)_x ket(0)_y + ket (1)_x ket (0)_y) Calculate the <p_x (t)> for each state Homework EquationsThe...
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