Matrix formulation of an operator

  • Thread starter Thread starter tanaygupta2000
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Matrix Operator
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the difficulties in applying the operator R to the basis vectors |bj> in an N-dimensional linear vector space. The user successfully derived the matrix representation of R but is confused as it does not yield the expected results, specifically that R|bj> should equal |b(j+1)>. Instead, they observe incorrect behavior resembling R|bj> = |b(j-1)>. Participants suggest verifying the matrix multiplication process and clarify the correct representation of basis vectors, emphasizing the importance of mastering matrix operations. The user acknowledges errors in their understanding of the matrix and basis vectors, indicating a need for further clarification on these concepts.
tanaygupta2000
Messages
208
Reaction score
14
Homework Statement
Consider an N-dimensional linear vector space spanned by the ortho-normal basis
states, {|b1>, |b2>, ...., |bN>}. An operator R is given to operate on these basis stats as: R|b(j) = |b(j+1)> for j=1 to (N-1), and R|bN> = |b1>.
Write R in the matrix form in the given basis.
Relevant Equations
<ψ|R|ψ> = Σ(i) Σ(j) <ψ|bj> <bj|R|bi> <bi|ψ>
where
R operator = <bj|R|bi> matrix
IMG_20210220_095529.jpg


I have successfully found the N by N matrix corresponding to the operator R.
But the problem is, whenever I try to operate R on |bj> basis vectors, I am not getting |b(j+1)> as it should be.
Instead, I am getting result as given in the question only by <bj|R = <b(j+1)|

Matrix is not working with kets.
Please help !
 
Physics news on Phys.org
tanaygupta2000 said:
Homework Statement:: Consider an N-dimensional linear vector space spanned by the ortho-normal basis
states, {|b1>, |b2>, ..., |bN>}. An operator R is given to operate on these basis stats as: R|b(j) = |b(j+1)> for j=1 to (N-1), and R|bN> = |b1>.
Write R in the matrix form in the given basis.
Relevant Equations:: <ψ|R|ψ> = Σ(i) Σ(j) <ψ|bj> <bj|R|bi> <bi|ψ>
where
R operator = <bj|R|bi> matrix

View attachment 278350

I have successfully found the N by N matrix corresponding to the operator R.
But the problem is, whenever I try to operate R on |bj> basis vectors, I am not getting |b(j+1)> as it should be.
Instead, I am getting result as given in the question only by <bj|R = <b(j+1)|

Matrix is not working with kets.
Please help !
The matrix looks right to me. What do you get for ##R|b_1 \rangle##?
 
  • Like
Likes tanaygupta2000
PeroK said:
The matrix looks right to me. What do you get for ##R|b_1 \rangle##?
It is behaving like R|b(j) = |b(j-1)> instead of R|b(j) = |b(j+1)>
 
tanaygupta2000 said:
It is behaving like R|b(j) = |b(j-1)> instead of R|b(j) = |b(j+1)>
The question was what is ##R|b_1 \rangle##?
 
PeroK said:
The question was what is ##R|b_1 \rangle##?
It is |bN>
IMG_20210220_183817.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20210220_183817.jpg
    IMG_20210220_183817.jpg
    34.7 KB · Views: 103
Hmm! $$|b_1 \rangle = (1, 0, \dots 0)^T$$
 
PeroK said:
Hmm! $$|b_1 \rangle = (1, 0, \dots 0)^T$$
But then R|b1> will be zero?
Because R11 is zero
 
tanaygupta2000 said:
But then R|b1> will be zero?
No. It will be ##b_2##.
 
Try with ##N = 3##.
 
  • Like
Likes tanaygupta2000
  • #10
PeroK said:
Try with ##N = 3##.
For N=2, R = [0, 0 first row and 1, 0 second row]
Is it right?
 
  • #11
tanaygupta2000 said:
For N=2, R = [0, 0 first row and 1, 0 second row]
Is it right?
Try ##N = 3## instead.
 
  • #12
PeroK said:
Try ##N = 3## instead.
For N=3, R = [0, 0, 0; 1, 0, 0; 0, 1, 0]
R|b1> is still 0
since first row is zero
 
  • #13
tanaygupta2000 said:
For N=3, R = [0, 0, 0; 1, 0, 0; 0, 1, 0]
R|b1> is still 0
Well, no. ##R## has a ##1## at the end of the first row.
 
  • Like
Likes tanaygupta2000
  • #14
PeroK said:
Well, no. ##R## has a ##1## at the end of the first row.
Sir the end has <b1|b4>
How it can be 1?
 
  • #15
tanaygupta2000 said:
Sir the end has <b1|b4>
How it can be 1?
There is no ##b_4## if ##N = 3##.
 
  • #16
tanaygupta2000 said:
Sir the end has <b1|b4>
How it can be 1?
In accordance with <b1|R|b3>
 
  • #17
PeroK said:
There is no ##b_4## if ##N = 3##.
So what will be <b1|R|b3>?
I am getting confused
 
  • #18
tanaygupta2000 said:
So what will be <b1|R|b3>?
I am getting confused
I can see that. From your post #5, we have:
$$R(N=3) = [0, 0, 1; 1, 0, 0; 0, 1, 0]$$
 
  • Like
Likes tanaygupta2000
  • #19
PeroK said:
I can see that. From your post #5, we have:
$$R(N=3) = [0, 0, 1; 1, 0, 0; 0, 1, 0]$$
Sir are the last entries of rows II and III belong from the last column of R(N, N)?
 
  • #20
I think I am getting ...
 
  • #21
tanaygupta2000 said:
Sir are the last entries of rows II and III belong from the last column of R(N, N)?
If ##N = 3##, then the ##1## at the end is in the 3rd column. ##N## is a variable in this case.
 
  • #22
IMG_20210220_191406.jpg
IMG_20210220_191406.jpg
 
  • Like
Likes PeroK
  • #23
Not exactly, the last row is wrong on ##R_4##!
 
  • Informative
Likes tanaygupta2000
  • #24
Thank You so much !
 
  • #25
tanaygupta2000 said:
Thank You so much !
Okay, but note that I've spotted an error now.
 
  • #26
PeroK said:
Okay, but note that I've spotted an error now.
Yes sir my mistake it should be 0, 0, 1, 0
 
  • #27
tanaygupta2000 said:
Yes sir my mistake it should be 0, 0, 1, 0
That's right now.
 
  • Informative
Likes tanaygupta2000
  • #28
PeroK said:
No. It will be ##b_2##.
Sir please assist me where am I doing mistake.
IMG_20210221_074525.jpg
 
  • #29
In Shankar it is given like this:
Shankar.PNG


But I'm having trouble verifying it mathematically as given in the question.
 
  • #30
tanaygupta2000 said:
In Shankar it is given like this:
View attachment 278401

But I'm having trouble verifying it mathematically as given in the question.
I just tried using a hermitian of R since it is behaving like a rotation matrix and I got ... is this good?
IMG_20210221_083300.jpg
 
  • #31
tanaygupta2000 said:
Sir please assist me where am I doing mistake.View attachment 278400
That's simply wrong. I can't imagine what process you're using for matrix multiplication of a vector, but it's not the right one.
 
  • #32
tanaygupta2000 said:
I just tried using a hermitian of R since it is behaving like a rotation matrix and I got ... is this good?View attachment 278403
You're matrix multiplication is correct, but you have the wrong idea about what a basis vector is.
 
  • #33
PeroK said:
You're matrix multiplication is correct, but you have the wrong idea about what a basis vector is.
You told it is b1> = transpose(1, 0, 0, ...,)
 
  • #34
tanaygupta2000 said:
You told it is b1> = transpose(1, 0, 0, ...,)
Which is right. You're confusing it with the first component of a vector.
 
  • #35
PS The root of your problem is that you haven't mastered matrices and vectors. You have basic errors and confusions.
 
Back
Top