What is the Wave Function for a Particle in One Dimension in Dirac Formalism?

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The discussion focuses on evaluating the expression for the wave function of a particle in one dimension using Dirac formalism, specifically the operator ##<x|P|x'>##. The calculations involve integrating over momentum states and applying the Fourier transform, leading to the expression ##\frac{1}{2\pi} \int dp' \ p' e^{ip'(x-x')}##. Participants discuss the integration by parts technique to derive the expected result, which is ##-i \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \delta(x-x')##. The final conclusion confirms that the wave function for the momentum operator in this context evaluates to the derivative of the delta function.
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What is ##<x|P|x'>##? (for particle in 1d, and ##\hbar = 1##)?\begin{align*}
<x|P|x'> &= \int dp' <x|P|p'><p'|x'> \\
&= \int dp' \ p' <x|p'> <p'|x'> \\
&= \int dp' \ p' \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{ip'x} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{-ip'x'} \\
&= \frac{1}{2\pi} \int dp' \ p' e^{ip'(x-x')}
\end{align*}
 
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ergospherical said:
What is ##<x|P|x'>##? (for particle in 1d, and ##\hbar = 1##)?\begin{align*}
<x|P|x'> &= \int dp' <x|P|p'><p'|x'> \\
&= \int dp' \ p' <x|p'> <p'|x'> \\
&= \int dp' \ p' \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{ip'x} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{-ip'x'} \\
&= \frac{1}{2\pi} \int dp' \ p' e^{ip'(x-x')}
\end{align*}
I'm not sure what the question is? So far so good. Now integrate by parts.

-Dan
 
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it's supposed to evaluate to \begin{align*}
-i \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \delta(x-x')
\end{align*}but even integrating by parts I'm not sure how to get this
 
ergospherical said:
What is ##<x|P|x'>##? (for particle in 1d, and ##\hbar = 1##)?\begin{align*}
<x|P|x'> &= \int dp' <x|P|p'><p'|x'> \\
&= \int dp' \ p' <x|p'> <p'|x'> \\
&= \int dp' \ p' \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{ip'x} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{-ip'x'} \\
&= \frac{1}{2\pi} \int dp' \ p' e^{ip'(x-x')}
\end{align*}
From this you get
$$\langle x|\hat{P}|x' \rangle=\frac{1}{2 \pi} (-\mathrm{i} \partial_x) \int_{\mathbb{R}} \mathrm{d} p' \exp[\mathrm{i} p' (x-x')]=-\mathrm{i} \partial_x \delta(x-x').$$
 
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(a) The polarisation pattern is elliptical with maximum (1,1) and minimum (-1,-1), and anticlockwise in direction. (b) I know the solution is a quarter-wave plate oriented π/4, and half-wave plate at π/16, but don't understand how to reach there. I've obtained the polarisation vector (cos π/8, isin π/8) so far. I can't find much online guidance or textbook material working through this topic, so I'd appreciate any help I can get. Also, if anyone could let me know where I can get more...

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