Confusion about position operator in QM

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SUMMARY

The position operator in quantum mechanics, defined as Q(ψ)(x) = xψ(x) with the domain D(Q) = {ψ ∈ L²(ℝ) | Qψ ∈ L²(ℝ)}, is not bounded despite initial assumptions. The confusion arises from the requirement that there exists a constant M such that ||Qψ|| ≤ M ||ψ|| for all functions ψ in the domain. However, using a sequence of normed, centered Gaussians with increasing standard deviation reveals that no such M can satisfy this condition, confirming the operator's unbounded nature.

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  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with the concept of operators in Hilbert spaces
  • Knowledge of L² spaces and square-integrable functions
  • Basic proficiency in mathematical analysis, particularly inequalities
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ShayanJ
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In quantum mechanics, the position operator(for a single particle moving in one dimension) is defined as Q(\psi)(x)=x\psi(x), with the domain D(Q)=\{\psi \epsilon L^2(\mathbb R) | Q\psi\epsilon L^2 (\mathbb R) \}. But this means no square-integrable function in the domain becomes non-square-integrable after being acted by this operator which, in turn, means there exist no function in the domain for which you can't have a M that satisfies ||Q \psi|| \leq M ||\psi|| and so this operator should be bounded. But people say its not bounded!
I'm really confused. What's the point here?
Thanks
 
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The point is that there needs to be an ##M## such that this inequality holds for all ##\psi##. However, for the position operator, you can easily check that there cannot be such an ##M##, for example by picking a sequence ##\psi_n## of normed, centered Gaussians with increasing standard deviation ##\sigma_n = n## (since ##\lVert Q\psi_n\rVert = \sigma^2##, so you would need an ##M## such that ##\forall n\in\mathbb N:M \geq n^2##, which doesn't exist).
 

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