- #1
lonewolf219
- 186
- 2
Let's say we have operator X that is Hermitian and we have operator P that is Hermitian. Is the following true:
[X,P]=ihbar
This is the commutator of X and P.
This particular result is known as the canonical commutation relation.
Expanding:
[X,P]=XP-PX=ihbar
This result indicates that XP[itex]\neq[/itex]PX because XP-PX[itex]\neq[/itex]0
Because XP[itex]\neq[/itex]PX, XP is not a Hermitian operator.
Likewise, because PX[itex]\neq[/itex]XP, PX is not a Hermitian operator.
So to summarize:
The commutator implies multiplication of operators
Multiplication of Hermitian operators does not always produce another Hermitian operator.
If two Hermitian operators do not commute, then their product is not Hermitian.
Any mistakes here?
[X,P]=ihbar
This is the commutator of X and P.
This particular result is known as the canonical commutation relation.
Expanding:
[X,P]=XP-PX=ihbar
This result indicates that XP[itex]\neq[/itex]PX because XP-PX[itex]\neq[/itex]0
Because XP[itex]\neq[/itex]PX, XP is not a Hermitian operator.
Likewise, because PX[itex]\neq[/itex]XP, PX is not a Hermitian operator.
So to summarize:
The commutator implies multiplication of operators
Multiplication of Hermitian operators does not always produce another Hermitian operator.
If two Hermitian operators do not commute, then their product is not Hermitian.
Any mistakes here?