# Expectation values equality

1. Feb 25, 2014

### hitche

Hi, I'd like to know if the following statement is true:
Let $\hat{A}, \hat{B}$ be operators for any two observables $A, B$. Then $\langle \hat{A} \rangle_{\psi} = \langle \hat{B} \rangle_{\psi} \forall \psi$ implies $\hat{A} = \hat{B}$.
Here, $\langle \hat{A} \rangle_{\psi} = \int_\mathbb{R^3} d^3x \psi^* \hat{A} \psi$ is standard definition of expectation value of an operator $\hat{A}$.
If this doesn't hold, could you provide any counterexample? Thank you!

2. Feb 25, 2014

### clem

Any two operators with odd parity would give zero for any wave function.

3. Feb 25, 2014

### cattlecattle

yes - because the expected value of A-B will be zero for all psi, then by taking psi to be A-B's eigenvector, you reached the conclusion that A-B has only zero eigenvalues, which means A-B must be a zero operator.

4. Feb 25, 2014

### dextercioby

Of course, not. The general solution of $\langle\psi, A\psi \rangle= \langle\psi, B\psi\rangle$ is that either one is an extension of the other. Equality follows iff both operators are bounded. As a counterexample would be any symmetric operator which is not self-adjoint.

5. Feb 25, 2014

### WannabeNewton

Not that's wrong. If either A or B is unbounded then clearly your argument won't apply.

6. Feb 25, 2014

### cattlecattle

sorry, I failed to see which step was not applicable due to unboundedness

7. Feb 25, 2014

### hitche

I'm new to the theory, but I think the reason is that spectrum of operator is defined for bounded operators. There exists also some extended definition of spectrum for unbounded operators, but it can be empty (unlike the spectrum of a bounded operator).
BUT I read that in quantum mechanics every observable is represented by selfadjoint linear operator and according to another resource every selfadjoint everywhere defined operator is bounded. On the other hand bounded self adjoint operator may have no eigenvalue. So.. I don't know!