Linear Algebra: Unitary matrix

Niles
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Homework Statement


Hi

My teacher told us that if we have a unitary matrix U, then

<br /> \sum\limits_p {\left| {U_{np} } \right|^2 } = 1<br />

Is that really correct? I thought he should be summing over n, not p.
 
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Use that if U is unitary, then the hermitian conjugate of U is unitary also to show you can sum over either index.
 
Dick said:
Use that if U is unitary, then the hermitian conjugate of U is unitary also to show you can sum over either index.

Hmm, all I know is that U-1=UH. I cannot see how that helps me.
 
Niles said:
Hmm, all I know is that U-1=UH. I cannot see how that helps me.

Define V=U^H. Then V also satisfies V^(-1)=V^H. So V is also unitary. The sum over the second index for U is the same as the sum over the first index for V.
 
I see, very smart. Thanks.

Have a nice day.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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