What Is the Variance of an Eigenvector in a Hermitian Operator?

foxjwill
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Homework Statement


On page 5 of http://arcsecond.wordpress.com/2009...uality-and-heisenbergs-uncertainty-principle/ the author states (w/o proof) that if \psi is an eigenvector (say with eigenvalue \lambda) of an Hermitian operator A (I don't think the Hermitian-ness matters here), then its variance is 0; that is, \langle \psi| A^2\psi\rangle = \langle \psi| A\psi\rangle^2. However, I've not been able to show this.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I keep getting
\langle \psi|A^2\psi\rangle = \lambda\langle \psi|A\psi\rangle = \lambda^2\langle\psi |\psi\rangle​
and
\langle \psi|A\psi\rangle^2 = \left(\lambda\langle \psi|A\psi\rangle\right)^2 = \lambda^2\langle\psi |\psi\rangle^2.​
Where am I going wrong?
 
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Eigenvectors are typically normalized, so \langle\psi\vert\psi\rangle=1
 
gabbagabbahey said:
Eigenvectors are typically normalized, so \langle\psi\vert\psi\rangle=1

D'oh! Of course! Thanks!
 
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