Fermi's golden rule derivation a bit hazy

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the derivation of Fermi's golden rule, specifically addressing the confusion surrounding the energy terms involved. The user initially misinterprets the relationship between the energies, suggesting an incorrect equation of ω = E_m + E_n instead of the correct ω = E_m - E_n. Participants emphasize the importance of hermiticity and the adjoint operation in quantum mechanics, particularly in relation to Dirac notation. The consensus confirms that the user's approach to the exponential operator e^{i H_0 t} is valid, leading to the correct interpretation of the energy terms.

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Replusz
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I am stuck between line 1 and 2 in the derivation below. I have attached what I tried
1586805944414.png

1586806504002.png

1586806124910.png
My thought is following:
1586806435700.png

However this would give me w=E_m + E_n instead of E_m-E_n
I guess something relating to hermiticity or adjointing something has gnoe wrong in my version.
Can someone point me in the right direction please? :)
Thank you in advance!
 
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Replusz said:
However this would give me w=E_m + E_n instead of E_m-E_n

Are you sure you didn't get ##\omega = -\left(E_m + E_n \right)##? Then I would have replied that, in Dirac notation, the bra - ket is conjugate linear in the bra, i.e., if you pull a scalar outside of the bra, you have to take the complex conjugate of the scalar.

I do get the required result.
 
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Replusz said:
Summary:: I am stuck between line 1 and 2 in the derivation below. I have attached what I tried

View attachment 260581
View attachment 260585
View attachment 260582My thought is following:
View attachment 260584
However this would give me w=E_m + E_n instead of E_m-E_n
I guess something relating to hermiticity or adjointing something has gnoe wrong in my version.
Can someone point me in the right direction please? :)
Thank you in advance!
I agree with George. Focus on your ##e^{i H_0 t}## which you turned into ##e^{-i E_m t}##.
 
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nrqed said:
I agree with George. Focus on your ##e^{i H_0 t}## which you turned into ##e^{-i E_m t}##.

So ##<m|e^{i H_0 t} = adjoint(e^{-i H_0 t} |m> ) = adjoint(e^{-i E_m t} |m> ) = e^{ i E_m t} <m| ##

Is this correct?
(if this is correct then everything makes sense)
 
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Replusz said:
So ##<m|e^{i H_0 t} = adjoint(e^{-i H_0 t} |m> ) = adjoint(e^{-i E_m t} |m> ) = e^{ i E_m t} <m| ##

Is this correct?
(if this is correct then everything makes sense)
Yes, this is correct.
 
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