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College Physics

The general proof of completeness of eigenfunction of Hermitian operators

Linli He

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Starting from a set of completed eigenfunctions,we build a phenomenological formula under the representation principle,and then the completeness of eigenfunction of the Hermitian operators is proved by reduction to absurdity.This set of completed eigenfunctions of mechanical quantities can be projected onto the eigenfunctions of operator space,which gives the general proof of completeness of eigenfunctions of operators.

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Ψ=Ψ Iˆ In view of the expansion (29.28), which holds for an arbitrary state function in the form Ψ = Ψ Ψ Ψ Ψ = Ψ Ψ Ψ∑ ∑ we may define the unit or identity operator as i iI ΨΨ=∑ =1 ˆ (33.4) Conversely, for every linear operator we can form a square matrix, in terms of a complete set of functions by multiplying the left-hand side of Eq.(33.3) by and integrating, which gives fˆ ,iΨ ∗Ψi ΨΨ=ΨΨ=ΦΨ=ΦΨ∫ ∗ Iffd iiii ˆˆˆV ΨΨ=ΨΨΨΨ= n ˆˆ Since ii b=ΦΨ this result is identical with that given by Eq.(33.1), provided we set Vˆˆ dfff kikiik ΨΨ=ΨΨ= ∫ ∗ (33.5) which are called the matrix elements of the linear operator in terms of the particular complete set of functions It is a straightforward matter to show that the rules of matrix algebra for addition, multiplication, associativity and distributivity (see Appendix II) apply to the matrix elements (33.5), following from their definition. Two properties of fˆ .iΨ matrix elements that are needed in quantum mechanics can be readily derived from Eq.(33.5). Using Eq.(29.19) we obtain ∗∗ =ΨΨ=ΨΨ= kiikkiik ffff ˆˆ (33.6) which means that if is a Hermitian operator, then its matrix representation in a complete set of functions is Hermitian. Hence, the elements in the principal diagonal of a Hermitian matrix must be real. When all the elements are real, the matrix must be symmetric. From Eq.(29.20) we have fˆ ikiikiik f δλλ =ΨΨ=ΨΨ ˆ (33.7) that is: if the functions are the eigenfunctions of the Hermitian operator the matrix representation is diagonal, and the matrix elements are the eigenvalues of the operator. A quantum mechanical problem can be stated in a differential equation form or in a matrix form. In both cases the solution consists of finding the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions of an operator associated with a physical observable. In view of a matrix representation in any complete set of functions, the eigenvalue equation (29.20) must be formulated as iΨ ,fˆ (33.8) Ψ=Ψ λfˆ where the arbitrary eigenfunction Ψ can be expanded, as given by Eq.(29.4), in terms of a complete set of functions If we multiply Eq.(33.8) by and integrate, we obtain .iΨ ∗Ψi ˆ ˆ ˆV V ori i if d d f Iλ λ∗ ∗Ψ Ψ = Ψ Ψ Ψ Ψ = Ψ Ψ∫ ∫ i or also, in view of Eq.(33.4) k kki f λ ˆ This can be rewritten as = n 1 λ which reads (33.9) ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ = ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ a a a a a a fff fff fff …… … ……… … … λ Equation (33.6) is called the matrix eigenvalue equation and consists of n linear homogenous equations for the given by ,ka ( ) 0... 1212111 =+++− nnafafaf λ ( ) 0... 2222121 =++−+ nnafafaf λ (33.10) ……… ( ) 0...2211 =−+++ nnnnn afafaf λ This system of simultaneous equations has a nontrivial solution for the if and only if the characteristic determinant vanishes ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 01ˆˆdet = ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ − − − =− λ λ λ λ nnnn fff fff fff f … ……… … … (33.11) If expanded, the determinant gives a polynominal of nth degree called the characteristic polynominal of fˆ with n roots which are the desired eigenvalues. For each eigenvalue Eqs.(33.10) can be solved for the giving the corresponding eigenfunction that is a column matrix.

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Starting from a set of completed eigenfunctions,we build a phenomenological formula under the representation principle,and then the completeness of eigenfunction of the Hermitian operators is proved by reduction to absurdity.This set of completed eigenfunctions of mechanical quantities can be projected onto the eigenfunctions of operator space,which gives the general proof of completeness of eigenfunctions of operators.
Abstract Mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics is closely connected with the theory of linear operators. A key quantum-mechanical principle is that physical quantities (observables) are represented by Hermitian linear operators that act on state vectors that belong to a Hilbert vector space. This chapter analyzes problems that deal with the basic concepts of the theory of linear operators; eigenfunctions, eigenvalues, mean values; the projection operators; quantum-mechanical representations of operators and wave-functions; and unitary operators.
The spectral analysis of a non-Hermitian unbounded operator appearing in quantum physics is our main concern. The properties of such an operator are essentially different from those of Hermitian Hamiltonians, namely due to spectral instabilities. We demonstrate that the considered operator and its adjoint can be diagonalized when expressed in terms of certain conveniently constructed operators. We show that their eigenfunctions constitute complete systems, but do not form Riesz bases. Attempts to overcome this difficulty in the quantum mechanical set up are pointed out.
Ψ=Ψ Iˆ In view of the expansion (29.28), which holds for an arbitrary state function in the form Ψ = Ψ Ψ Ψ Ψ = Ψ Ψ Ψ∑ ∑ we may define the unit or identity operator as i iI ΨΨ=∑ =1 ˆ (33.4) Conversely, for every linear operator we can form a square matrix, in terms of a complete set of functions by multiplying the left-hand side of Eq.(33.3) by and integrating, which gives fˆ ,iΨ ∗Ψi ΨΨ=ΨΨ=ΦΨ=ΦΨ∫ ∗ Iffd iiii ˆˆˆV ΨΨ=ΨΨΨΨ= n ˆˆ Since ii b=ΦΨ this result is identical with that given by Eq.(33.1), provided we set Vˆˆ dfff kikiik ΨΨ=ΨΨ= ∫ ∗ (33.5) which are called the matrix elements of the linear operator in terms of the particular complete set of functions It is a straightforward matter to show that the rules of matrix algebra for addition, multiplication, associativity and distributivity (see Appendix II) apply to the matrix elements (33.5), following from their definition. Two properties of fˆ .iΨ matrix elements that are needed in quantum mechanics can be readily derived from Eq.(33.5). Using Eq.(29.19) we obtain ∗∗ =ΨΨ=ΨΨ= kiikkiik ffff ˆˆ (33.6) which means that if is a Hermitian operator, then its matrix representation in a complete set of functions is Hermitian. Hence, the elements in the principal diagonal of a Hermitian matrix must be real. When all the elements are real, the matrix must be symmetric. From Eq.(29.20) we have fˆ ikiikiik f δλλ =ΨΨ=ΨΨ ˆ (33.7) that is: if the functions are the eigenfunctions of the Hermitian operator the matrix representation is diagonal, and the matrix elements are the eigenvalues of the operator. A quantum mechanical problem can be stated in a differential equation form or in a matrix form. In both cases the solution consists of finding the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions of an operator associated with a physical observable. In view of a matrix representation in any complete set of functions, the eigenvalue equation (29.20) must be formulated as iΨ ,fˆ (33.8) Ψ=Ψ λfˆ where the arbitrary eigenfunction Ψ can be expanded, as given by Eq.(29.4), in terms of a complete set of functions If we multiply Eq.(33.8) by and integrate, we obtain .iΨ ∗Ψi ˆ ˆ ˆV V ori i if d d f Iλ λ∗ ∗Ψ Ψ = Ψ Ψ Ψ Ψ = Ψ Ψ∫ ∫ i or also, in view of Eq.(33.4) k kki f λ ˆ This can be rewritten as = n 1 λ which reads (33.9) ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ = ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ a a a a a a fff fff fff …… … ……… … … λ Equation (33.6) is called the matrix eigenvalue equation and consists of n linear homogenous equations for the given by ,ka ( ) 0... 1212111 =+++− nnafafaf λ ( ) 0... 2222121 =++−+ nnafafaf λ (33.10) ……… ( ) 0...2211 =−+++ nnnnn afafaf λ This system of simultaneous equations has a nontrivial solution for the if and only if the characteristic determinant vanishes ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 01ˆˆdet = ⎟⎟ ⎟⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ − − − =− λ λ λ λ nnnn fff fff fff f … ……… … … (33.11) If expanded, the determinant gives a polynominal of nth degree called the characteristic polynominal of fˆ with n roots which are the desired eigenvalues. For each eigenvalue Eqs.(33.10) can be solved for the giving the corresponding eigenfunction that is a column matrix.
Completeness of the Klein--Gordon oscillator eigenfunctions is proved in one and three spatial dimensions. The proofs establish the closure relations satisfied by the eigenfunctions and are based on standard properties of the Hermite and the generalized Laguerre polynomials, supplemented in three dimensions by the completeness of the spherical harmonics. The scalar nature of the Klein--Gordon field renders the argument strictly simpler than the analogous proof for the Dirac oscillator: no off-diagonal cancellation is required.