Understanding the Dual of an HO Energy Eigenket

In summary, the dual of an HO energy eigenket is a mathematical representation of the energy eigenket in terms of its dual space, used to calculate the inner product between the energy eigenket and other vectors in the dual space. It is calculated by taking the complex conjugate of each coefficient in the energy eigenket's expansion in terms of its basis vectors. The significance of the dual of an HO energy eigenket in quantum mechanics includes its role in calculating probabilities and transition amplitudes between energy eigenstates, and its use as a basis for representing observables and operators. It can also be expressed in terms of its position or momentum representation, allowing for the calculation of inner products with states in these bases. The dual of an HO energy eigen
  • #1
carllacan
274
3
Hi.

This is clearly wrong, but I don't know where is the error:
##\langle n\vert = (\vert n \rangle )^* = (a_+^n\vert 0 \rangle )^* = \langle 0\vert a_{-}^n = 0 ##
 
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  • #2
The error is in the last step. If ##a_{-}## is the lowering operator, ##a_{-}|0\rangle = 0##, but ##\langle 0 | a_{-} = \langle 1 | \neq 0##. To see this, take the conjugate of the equation ##a_{+}|0\rangle = |1\rangle##.
 
  • #3
Oh, ok, that explains it. Thank you.
 

What is the definition of the dual of an HO energy eigenket?

The dual of an HO energy eigenket is the mathematical representation of the energy eigenket in terms of its dual space, which is the space of all linear functionals on the original space. It is used to calculate the inner product between the energy eigenket and other vectors in the dual space.

How is the dual of an HO energy eigenket calculated?

The dual of an HO energy eigenket is calculated by taking the complex conjugate of each coefficient in the energy eigenket's expansion in terms of its basis vectors. This results in a new ket that is orthogonal to the original energy eigenket and represents the corresponding vector in the dual space.

What is the significance of the dual of an HO energy eigenket in quantum mechanics?

The dual of an HO energy eigenket plays a crucial role in quantum mechanics as it allows for the calculation of probabilities and transition amplitudes between energy eigenstates. It also serves as a basis for the representation of observables and operators in the quantum mechanical formalism.

Can the dual of an HO energy eigenket be expressed in terms of its position or momentum representation?

Yes, the dual of an HO energy eigenket can be expressed in terms of its position or momentum representation by using the appropriate transformation matrices. This allows for the calculation of the inner product between the energy eigenket and a state represented in the position or momentum basis.

How is the dual of an HO energy eigenket related to the wave function of a particle in a harmonic oscillator potential?

The dual of an HO energy eigenket is closely related to the wave function of a particle in a harmonic oscillator potential. In fact, the dual of an HO energy eigenket can be obtained by operating on the wave function with the appropriate operator, such as the position or momentum operator. This relationship allows for the calculation of physical quantities and observables in the harmonic oscillator system.

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