Quantum Physics For Dummies
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In quantum physics, you can use operators to extend the capabilities of bras and kets. Although they have intimidating-sounding names like Hamiltonian, unity, gradient, linear momentum, and Laplacian, these operators are actually your friends.

Taking the product of a bra and a ket,

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is fine as far as it goes, but operators take you to the next step, where you can extract physical quantities that you can measure.

Here’s the general definition of an operator A in quantum physics: An operator is a mathematical rule that, when operating on a ket,

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transforms that ket into a new ket,

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in the same space (which could just be the old ket multiplied by a scalar). So when you have an operator A, it transforms kets like this:

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For that matter, the same operator can also transform bras:

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Here are some examples of how you can use operators:

  • Hamiltonian. Applying the Hamiltonian operator, H (which looks different for every different physical situation) gives you E, the energy of the particle represented by the ket

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    E is a scalar quantity:

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  • Unity or identity. The unity or identity operator, I, leaves kets unchanged:

    image7.png
  • *Gradient. The gradient operator,

    image8.png

    works as follows:

    image9.png
  • Linear momentum. The linear momentum operator, P, looks like this in quantum mechanics:

    image10.png
  • Laplacian. You use the Laplacian operator,

    image11.png

    which is much like a second-order gradient, to create the energy-finding Hamiltonian operator:

    image12.png

Keep in mind that multiplying operators together is not usually the same independent of order, so for the operators A and B,

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And an operator A is said to be linear if

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About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Steven Holzner is an award-winning author of technical and science books (like Physics For Dummies and Differential Equations For Dummies). He graduated from MIT and did his PhD in physics at Cornell University, where he was on the teaching faculty for 10 years. He’s also been on the faculty of MIT. Steve also teaches corporate groups around the country.

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