# Transition amplitude

1. Dec 15, 2011

### Identity

I'm reading through Peskin&Schroeder, and they mention that the probability of transition from a state $|\psi_0\rangle$ to a state $|\psi_1\rangle$ is given by:
$$\langle \psi_1|H|\psi_0\rangle$$
where $H$ is the Hamiltonian. Can someone please explain how this formula is derived? Thx

2. Dec 15, 2011

Staff Emeritus
This is very basic QM.

I'm afraid that if this isn't immediately obvious to you, Peskin and Schroeder is too advanced for you. Have you taken undergrad QM? What book did you use?

3. Dec 16, 2011

### Identity

Well, I've read most of Griffiths, but I think it may have been something I overlooked. Can you tell me? Thx

4. Dec 16, 2011

Staff Emeritus
It's not something you overlook. This is one of the most basic aspects of quantum mechanics. I don't have Griffiths nearby, but Schiff devotes about 150 pages to this. If this isn't second nature to you, you aren't ready for Peskin & Schroeder. You'd be better served to go back to Griffiths and understand it before trying to move on.

5. Dec 16, 2011

### lugita15

Maybe this is an equivalent formulation, but I've usually seen a unitary time evolution operator U which is an exponential of the Hamiltonian operator, not the Hamiltonian operator itself, being used in expressing the amplitude.

6. Dec 17, 2011

### Identity

Yes, I've seen it in this form
$$|\psi\rangle = e^{-i\frac{H}{\hbar}t}|\psi(0)\rangle$$

I may look at Schiff to see if it is an equivalent formulation