Is the expectation value of momentum always zero for real wavefunctions?

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SUMMARY

The expectation value of momentum for real wavefunctions is zero in stationary states, such as energy eigenstates of bound systems like the infinite square well. This is due to the momentum operator introducing an imaginary unit (i) in the integral, which cannot be canceled out by any other imaginary unit in real wavefunctions. However, in non-stationary states, represented as linear combinations of energy eigenstates, the expectation value of momentum can be non-zero, as demonstrated by the wavefunction $$\Psi(x,t) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \left[ \psi_1(x)e^{-iE_1 t / \hbar} + \psi_2(x)e^{-iE_2 t / \hbar} \right].

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When calculating the expectation value of momentum of a real wavefunction is it always zero ? The momentum operator introduces an i into the integral and with real wavefunctions there is no other i to cancel and all Hermitian operators have real expectation values.
 
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For a stationary state (e.g. any energy eigenstate of a bound system like the infinite square well), <p> must indeed be zero.

However, for a non-stationary state, e.g. a linear combination of energy eigenstates of a bound system, in general <p> ≠ 0. Consider for example $$\Psi(x,t) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \left[ \psi_1(x)e^{-iE_1 t / \hbar} + \psi_2(x)e^{-iE_2 t / \hbar} \right]$$
 
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