What are the eigenvectors |E1> and |E2> of the energy?

In summary, the conversation discusses the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of an Operator A, where |a'> and |a"> are both eigenvectors with eigenvalues a' and a" respectively. The Hamiltonian of the system is defined as H=ε( |a'><a"| + |a"><a'| ). The conversation also discusses the probability to find the system in the |a"> state at a later time if it was in the |a'> state at t=0. The teacher solved for this probability by writing H as a matrix in the basis of |a'> and |a"> and finding the eigenvectors of this matrix. The time dependence of the system state is also discussed.
  • #1
ziad1985
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0
|a'> and |a"> are both eigenvectors of eigenvalue a' and a" of an Operator A
and a' doesn't equal a",The hameltonien of the system is defined as
H=ε( |a'><a"| + |a"><a'| )
a)What are the eigenvectors |E1> and |E2> of the energy?

b)If the system was in the state |a'> at t=0 , write the system state at t>0

c)What is the probability to find the system in the |a"> state at t>0 if it was in |a'> at t=0?

Frankly the teacher solved it , but i have no idea how he came up with the result in (3) and (4) (For (1)(2)(3)(4) check the pics attached)
I understand (1) and (2) and how we can obtien them,any help for (3) and (4)?
 

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  • #2
The first thing he did was to write H as a matrix in the basis |a'>, |a''>. You got that part, right?
[tex]H=\left( \begin{array}{cc}0 & \epsilon \\ \epsilon & 0\end{array}\right)[/tex]

Then (3) you simply find the eigenvectors of this matrix, which is an elementary linear algebra exercise.
Also, if you know the state at a certain time (say t=0) and you've written it out in the basis of energy eigenstates, the time dependence is really simple. Each term simply gets the familiar exponential factor.
 

1. What is the significance of eigenvectors in energy calculations?

Eigenvectors are important in energy calculations because they represent the direction of the energy's highest variation. This means that they give insight into the most important components of the energy and can be used to simplify calculations and understand the behavior of the system.

2. How are eigenvectors related to energy states?

Eigenvectors are closely related to energy states. In fact, they represent the energy states in a system. Each energy state has a corresponding eigenvector that describes the direction of the energy's variation in that state.

3. Can eigenvectors be used to predict the behavior of a system?

Yes, eigenvectors can be used to predict the behavior of a system. Since they represent the most significant components of the energy, they can be used to simplify and model the behavior of a system. Additionally, the eigenvalues associated with the eigenvectors can provide information about the stability and dynamics of the system.

4. How are eigenvectors calculated in energy calculations?

Eigenvectors are calculated using mathematical operations, such as diagonalization or matrix decomposition, on the energy matrix. These operations transform the matrix into a simpler form where the eigenvectors can be easily identified and calculated.

5. What is the difference between the eigenvectors of the energy and the eigenvectors of other properties, such as momentum?

The eigenvectors of energy represent the direction of the energy's highest variation, while the eigenvectors of other properties, like momentum, represent the direction of the property's highest variation. This means that the eigenvectors of different properties may be different and cannot be used interchangeably in calculations.

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