Question about notation in the Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the interpretation of the notation used in Feynman Lectures on Physics III, specifically formulas (3.1) and (3.2). The notation is confirmed to align with Dirac's bra-ket inner product, indicating that it represents a probability amplitude. The inner product is clarified to be non-zero when considering the evolution of states over time, as Feynman describes it in the context of Green functions. The notation is consistent with standard practices in quantum mechanics, although it may not be widely found in other textbooks.

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Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1 notation of probability amplitude <x|s> meets Dirac's notation of bra ket inner product ?
I have a question on formula (3.1) and (3.2) in Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1, available online,
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/III_03.html

<x|s> here can be interpreted also as inner product of bra <x| and ket |s>, following usual Dirac notation ?

For example, ##<r_1|r_2>## in formula (3.7), if we take it as inner product, it should be zero because bra and ket are position eigenvecors of different eigenvalues. Feynman treats it as a kind of Green function. Is Green function noted in the form of < | > as a usual way?

I do not find this notation of probability amplitude in other textbooks. Your teaching will be highly appreciated.
 
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anuttarasammyak said:
Summary:: Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1 notation of probability amplitude <x|s> meets Dirac's notation of bra ket inner product ?

I have a question on formula (3.1) and (3.2) in Feynman Lectures on Physics III 3-1, available online,
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/III_03.html

<x|s> here can be interpreted also as inner product of bra <x| and ket |s>, following usual Dirac notation ?

Yes. Feynman's notation is the same the the usual Dirac braket inner product.

anuttarasammyak said:
For example, ##<r_1|r_2>## in formula (3.7), if we take it as inner product, it should be zero because bra and ket are position eigenvecors of different eigenvalues. Feynman treats it as a kind of Green function. Is Green function noted in the form of < | > as a usual way?

The inner product ##<r_2|r_1>## is not zero, because if you read Feynman's text he means ##<r_2|\text{the state at the time of measurement that evolved from a state localized at $r_1$ at an earlier time}>##
 
Last edited:
I have got it. For clarification of time difference or evolution I add suffix of time explicitly to <r2|r1>, i.e.
&lt; \mathbf{r_2}_{\ t}|\mathbf{r_1}_{\ t0}&gt;
where ## t>t_0 ##.

In later lines I found he mentions clearly
&lt;r,t=t_1|{P,t=0}&gt;

Thank you so much.
 
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