# Expected Values in a Harmonic Oscillator

1. Jul 1, 2008

### Domnu

Problem
Show that in the $$n$$th state of the harmonic oscillator

$$\langle x^2 \rangle = (\Delta x)^2$$
$$\langle p^2 \rangle = (\Delta p)^2$$​

Solution
This seems too simple... I'm not sure if it's correct...

It is obvious that $$\langle x \rangle = 0$$... this is true because the parity of the square of the eigenfunction is $$1$$ (in other words, the probabiliity density is an even function). Now, we know that $$(\Delta x)^2 = \langle x^2 \rangle - \langle x \rangle ^2$$, but $$\langle x \rangle = 0$$, so by substitution, the desired result follows. A similar argument can be made for the momentum. $$\blacksquare$$

2. Jul 1, 2008

### G01

You can always explicitly show that <x> = 0 in the nth state if you feel you need to show more work.

To get started try representing x in terms of the raising and lowering operators in the following line, letting the operators act on any kets to their right, and simplifying:

<n|x|n> = ... |n> is the eigenket for the nth eigenstate.

You should end up with delta functions that have to be zero.