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Homework Statement
Give expressions for computing the matrix elements Xmn of the matrix X representing the position operator X in the energy basis (using eigenvectors of the Harmiltonian operator)
Also told to consider the example of the harmonic oscillator where energy eigenvalues are En=(1/2+n)hω
Homework Equations
Xmn=<em|X|en>
H|en>=En|en>
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm thrown off a bit by how Xmn is defined here - if it is originally in the |x> basis, why is Xmn defined using |em> and |en>. Shouldn't these be inserted using the completeness relation to convert the matrix into the energy basis representation?
Here goes...
Xmn=<em|X|en>
Xmn=ƩƩ<em|x><x|X|x'><x'|en>
Xmn=ƩƩem(x)X(x,x')en(x')