Show that the energy-time uncertainty principle reduces to the "your name" uncertainty principle (Problem 3.14), when the observable in question is x.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The energy-time uncertainty principle reduces to σH2σx2=ħ24m2p2.

Step by step solution

01

The generalized uncertainty principle for two operators.

The generalized uncertainty principle for two operators is:

δA2δB2(12i<[A,B]>)2

02

Show that the energy-time uncertainty principle reduces to the "your name" uncertainty principle.

From the energy-time uncertainty principle, an operator Q satisfies the equation:

ddtQ=iħH,Q+Qtforthepositionoperator,Q=x,thetimederivativeofthepositioniszero,sincexandtareindependentvariables,ddtx=iħH,xletA=HandB=xanduse(2),toget;σH2σx2-ħ2dxdt2=ħ24m2mdxdt2=ħ24m2p2σH2σx2=ħ24m2p2Thus,theenergy-timeuncertaintyprinciplereducestoσH2σx2=ħ24m2p2.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Find the matrix elements <n|x|n'>a­­­­nd <n|p|n'>in the (orthonormal) basis of stationary states for the harmonic oscillator (Equation 2.67). You already calculated the "diagonal" elements (n=n') in Problem 2.12; use the same technique for the general case. Construct the corresponding (infinite) matrices, X and P . Show that(1/2m)P2+(2/2)X2=His diagonal, in this basis. Are its diagonal elements what you would expect? Partial answer:

<n|x|n'>=h2mω(n'δn,n'-1+nδn,n'-1)

Let Q^be an operator with a complete set of orthonormal eigenvectors:localid="1658131083682" Q^en>=qnen(n=1,2,3,....) Show thatQ^can be written in terms of its spectral decomposition:Q^=nqnen><en|

Hint: An operator is characterized by its action on all possible vectors, so what you must show is thatQ^={nqnen><en|} for any vector α>.

(a) Check that the eigenvalues of the hermitian operator in Example 3.1 are real. Show that the eigenfunctions (for distinct eigenvalues) are orthogonal.

(b) Do the same for the operator in Problem 3.6.

Test the energy-time uncertainty principle for the wave function in Problem2.5and the observable x, by calculatingσHσXandd<x>/dtexactly.

(a) Show that the sum of two hermitian operators is hermitian.

(b) SupposeQ^is hermitian, andαis a complex number. Under what condition (onα) islocalid="1655970881952" αQ^hermitian?

(c) When is the product of two hermitian operators hermitian?

(d) Show that the position operator (x^=x)and the hamiltonian operator

localid="1655971048829" H^=-h22md2dx2+V(x)are hermitian.

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