In QM operators, why [YPz,YPx]=0, [ZPy,ZPy]=0 [X,Py]=0 [Y,Pz]=0, etc

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The discussion centers on the commutation relations of quantum mechanical operators, specifically why certain pairs such as [YPz, YPx] and [Y, Px] equal zero. It establishes that the commutator of an operator with itself is always zero and provides a proof for the relation [X, Px] = iħ using the momentum operator in position space. The conversation also touches on the physical interpretation of these relations, emphasizing that commuting observables can have simultaneous eigenstates.

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in the quantum mechanical operators :
why :
[YPz,YPx]=0
[ZPy,ZPy]=0
[X,Py]=0
[Y,Pz]=0
[Z,Py]=0
 
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For the second:
What is the commutator of any operator with itself?

For the last three:
Can you prove that [X Px] = i h ?
Now do the same argument for [X Py].

For the first one:
Reduce it to Y^2 [Pz Px] using that [Y Pz] = [Y Px] = 0 (which you have just proven) and calculate [Pz Px] in the same way.
 
Last edited:
Can you prove that [X Px] = i h ?

Isn't [X Px] = i h an axiom, CompuChip?
 
pellman said:
Isn't [X Px] = i h an axiom, CompuChip?

Usually one thinks of this as something that nature implements (through de Broglie's relation). If one accepts it as a mathematical axiom a priori then the question "why?" wouldn't make much sense indeed.
 
thank
 
Hmm, yes it is usually taken as an axiom isn't it.
But actually the way I first learned it was: the p-operator in x-space can be written as - i \hbar \partial/\partial x
and from this you can show that (indeed)
[x p_x] f = - i \hbar x \partial f/\partial x + i \hbar \partial/\partial x (x f) = \cdots = i \hbar f
and it was this reasoning that I wanted muydos to continue to [X Py] (which would then of course give 0).
 
[Y,Px] = YPx-PxY
PxY=
P_x Y f(x) = i \hbar \partial /\partial x Y f(x)
P_x Y f(x) = i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x + i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x)
YPx=
Y P_x f(x) = i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x

[Y,Px] = YPx-PxY
= i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x - i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x - i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x)

[Y,Px] = - i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x)
but
[Y,Px] = 0

- i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x) = ? is thes =0 . why?
 
why [Y,Px] = 0

[Y,Px] = YPx-PxY
PxY=
P_x Y f(x) = i \hbar \partial /\partial x Y f(x)
P_x Y f(x) = i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x + i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x)
YPx=
Y P_x f(x) = i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x

[Y,Px] = YPx-PxY
= i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x - i \hbar Y \partial f/\partial x - i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x)

[Y,Px] = - i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x)
but
[Y,Px] = 0

- i \hbar \partial Y/\partial x f(x) = ? is thes =0 . why?
 
dY/dx is zero because this "Y" is a position operator for the y coordinate. In other words, one can think of "Y" as a function of only y, and no other variable. Thus, its derivative with respect to other variable, such as x, is zero.

Zz.
 
  • #10
thak you
 
  • #11
physically..if certain obsevables commute, there exist states for which they all have particular values..(there exist eigenstate of p_x, y, |p_x`>|y`> having their eigenvalues p_x` and y` respectively..) So a mesurement of p_x, y would give only particular value p_x`, y` respectively..
 

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