# Show operator is diag in second basis

1. Nov 25, 2008

### Old Guy

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Show explicitly using Pauli matrices that the S2 operator is diagonal in the second basis.

2. Relevant equations
S2=S$$^{2}_{1}$$+S$$^{2}_{2}$$+2S$$_{1}$$S$$_{2}$$

3. The attempt at a solution[/b]
In the last term, 1 and 2 are supposed to be subscripts, and the two S's should be shown as a dot product.

Treat as a 2-particle system; what are they looking for? What does "in the second basis" mean? There is also a chance that the probelm statement is incorrect; in the instructor's superscripts, it's often impossible to distinguish a 2 from a z. Thanks in advance.
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Nov 26, 2008

### gabbagabbahey

Is this really the entire problem?