QM: Expectation value of raising and lowering operator

barefeet
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Homework Statement


Using
[tex] J^2 \mid j,m_z \rangle = h^2 j(j+1) \mid j,m_z \rangle [/tex]
[tex] J_z \mid j,m_z \rangle = hm_z \mid j,m_z \rangle [/tex]

Derive that :
[tex] \langle j,m_z \mid J_-J_+ \mid j,m_z \rangle = h^2[ j(j+1) - m_z(m_z+1)][/tex]

Homework Equations


[tex] J_- = J_x - iJ_y[/tex]
[tex] J_+ = J_x + iJ_y[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


[tex] J_-J_+ = (J_x- iJ_y)(J_x + iJ_y) = J_x^2 + J_y^2 = J^2 - J_z^2[/tex]

[tex] \langle j,m_z \mid J_-J_+ \mid j,m_z \rangle = \langle j,m_z \mid J^2 - J_z^2 \mid j,m_z \rangle = h^2[ j(j+1) - m_z^2][/tex]

Apparently I am missing a term here but I don't know where it should come from. I thought this should be true
[tex] J_z^2 \mid j,m_z \rangle = J_zJ_z \mid j,m_z \rangle = h^2m_z^2 \mid j,m_z \rangle [/tex]
(Note: h is hbar everywhere )
 
on Phys.org
You are assuming that ##J_x## commutes with ##J_y## when computing ##J_-J_+##. This is not the case.
 
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