Basic calculation problem with commutators

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
Unkraut
Messages
30
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


A is a Hermitian operator which commutes with the Hamiltonian: [itex]\left[A,H\right]=AH-HA=0[/itex]

To be shown: [itex]\frac{d}{dt}A=0[/itex]

Homework Equations



Schrödinger equation: [itex]i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\psi=H\psi[/itex] with the Hamilton operator H.

The Attempt at a Solution


I have seen this solution on many sites:

[itex]\frac{d}{dt}<A>=\frac{d}{dt}<\psi|A|\psi>=<\psi|\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}|\psi>+<\frac{d\psi}{dt}|A|\psi>+<\psi|A|\frac{d\psi}{dt}>=<\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}>+\frac{1}{i\hbar}<\left[ A, H\right] >=0[/itex]

I have a problem with this: [itex]<\frac{d\psi}{dt}|A|\psi>+<\psi|A|\frac{d\psi}{dt}>=\frac{1}{i\hbar}<\left[ A, H\right] >[/itex]

Okay, obviously we have from the Schrödinger equation:
[itex]H=i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial t}[/itex]
and thus
[itex]\frac{\partial}{\partial t}=\frac{1}{i\hbar}H[/itex]
and thus
[itex]<\frac{d\psi}{dt}|A|\psi>+<\psi|A|\frac{d\psi}{dt}>=\frac{1}{i\hbar}(<H\psi|A|\psi>+<\psi|A|H\psi>)=\frac{1}{i\hbar}<\psi|HA+AH|\psi>[/itex]

But this is not the commutator but the anti-commutator. It is plus and not minus! What did I do wrong here?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Oh, of course!
Thank you.