Expectation value of operator derivation

Goodver
Messages
101
Reaction score
1
Where one can find a proof of the expectation value of operator expression.

<A> = < Ψ | A | Ψ >

or

<A> = integral( Ψ* A Ψ dx )

Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The expectation value of an observable is the average value of its outcome weighted according to the probability of each outcome.

\langle A\rangle\equiv \sum_{i}P(a_{i}) a_{i}

The observable A can be expressed in terms of its eigenvalues and eigenstates as:
\hat{A}=\sum_{i}a_{i}|a_{i}\rangle\langle a_{i}|, where \hat{A}|a_{i}\rangle=a_{i}|a_{i}\rangle

The probability of a given outcome is given by the state of the system |\psi\rangle and the Born rule:
P(a_{i})=|\langle a_{i}|\psi\rangle|^{2}=\langle \psi|a_{i}\rangle\langle a_{i}|\psi\rangle

Combining these together, we find the expectation value:
\langle A\rangle= \sum_{i}\langle \psi|a_{i}\rangle\langle a_{i}|\psi\rangle a_{i}

With a little algebra, this becomes:
\langle A\rangle=\langle \psi|\big(\sum_{i}a_{i}|a_{i}\rangle\langle a_{i}|\big)|\psi\rangle =\langle \psi|\hat{A}|\psi\rangle.
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. Towards the end of the first lecture for the Qiskit Global Summer School 2025, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Olivia Lanes (Global Lead, Content and Education IBM) stated... Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/quantum-entanglement-is-a-kinematic-fact-not-a-dynamical-effect/ by @RUTA
If we release an electron around a positively charged sphere, the initial state of electron is a linear combination of Hydrogen-like states. According to quantum mechanics, evolution of time would not change this initial state because the potential is time independent. However, classically we expect the electron to collide with the sphere. So, it seems that the quantum and classics predict different behaviours!
Back
Top