Quantum Essentials: Observables

zondag 11 januari 2009

Observables

Observables are (represented by) hermitian operators.
Two observables are incompatible if and only if their commutator is nonzero i.e. incompatible observables do not commute.

A hermitian operator is a linear operator.
The corresponding (orthogonal) eigenvectors and (real) eigenvalues represent possible system states and corresponding possible outcomes for that observable.

Geen opmerkingen:

Een reactie posten

Abonneren op: Reacties posten (Atom)

Welcome

This blog aims to contribute to an understanding of what is essential in quantum theory. We do this by careful positioning key concepts and connecting them to closely related concepts
We use the words of ordinary language at a price to be paid in terms of consistency of what is being said. But still we try to be as formal as possible in providing a deeper understand of quantum theory, sometimes from a bit philosophical point of view.

“You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing — that's what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.“
Taken from: "What is Science?", presented at the fifteenth annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association, in New York City (1966) published in The Physics Teacher Vol. 7, issue 6 (1969)

“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.“
Taken from “Cargo Cult Science” (p12) published in Engineering and Science 37 (7) (june 1974).
(http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/51/02/CargoCult.pdf)

Quantum Essentials

zondag 11 januari 2009

Observables

Geen opmerkingen:

Een reactie posten

Welcome

Volgers

Blogarchief

Over mij

Zoeken in deze blog