What is the commutator of x1 and the translation operator?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the commutation relation between the position operator \(x_i\) and the translation operator \(F(\textbf{l}) = \exp\left(\frac{-i \textbf{p} \cdot \textbf{l}}{\hbar}\right)\). The fundamental commutation relation \([x_i, G(\textbf{p})] = i\hbar \frac{\partial G}{\partial p_i}\) is utilized to derive the expression for \([x_i, F(\textbf{l})]\). The Taylor series expansion of \(F(\textbf{l})\) is applied, leading to a complex summation that ultimately requires further computation to clarify the final form of the commutator.

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  • Knowledge of Taylor series expansions and their application in quantum operator analysis.
  • Proficiency in mathematical notation used in quantum physics, including the use of \(\hbar\) (reduced Planck's constant).
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indigojoker
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Let the translation operator be:

F (\textbf {l} ) = exp \left( \frac{-i \textbf{p} \cdot \textbf{l}}{\hbar} \right)

where p is the momentum operator and l is some finite spatial displacement

I need to find [x_i , F (\textbf {l} )]

let me start with a fundamental commutation relation:

[x_i , G ( \textbf{p} ) ]=i \hbar \frac{ \partial G}{\partial p_i}

also let me define:

\textbf{p} = (p_i,p_j,p_k)
\textbf{l} = (\Delta x, \Delta y, \Delta z)

we expand F in a taylor series:

F (\textbf {l} ) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{ \left( \frac{ -i \textbf{p } \cdot \textbf{ l}}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!}

= \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{ \left( \frac{-i p_i \Delta x}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} \frac{ \left( \frac{-i p_j \Delta y}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} \frac{ \left(\frac{ -i p_k \Delta z}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!}

= \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{ \left(\frac{ -i \Delta x}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} \frac{ \left(\frac{ -i \Delta y}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} \frac{ \left(\frac{ -i \Delta z}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} p_i^n p_j^n p_k^n

we now apply:

[x_i , G ( \textbf{p} ) ]=i \hbar \frac{ \partial G}{\partial p_i}

which leaves us with:

= \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{ \left(\frac{ -i \Delta x}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} \frac{\left(\frac{ -i \Delta y}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} \frac{ \left(\frac{ -i \Delta z}{\hbar} \right) ^n}{n!} n i \hbar p_i^{n-1} p_j^n p_k^n

[x_i , G ( \textbf{p} ) ]=\frac{n i \hbar}{p_i} F (\textbf {l} )

wondering if this looks okay.
 
Last edited:
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It's not okay. Compute this commutator

\left[x_{1},e^{\frac{p_{1}l_{1}+p_{2}l_{2}+p_{3}l_{3}}{i\hbar}} \right]
 

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