Lecture 10

Innite Dimensional Vector Spaces

October 6, 2010
Lecture 10
Innite Dimensional Space
Consider the set of continuous, single-variable functions,
f(x), on the interval L/2 x L/2.
If we specify these functions by giving there values at n
equally-spaced, discreet points, x
i
, they form vectors, |f,
in an n-dimensional vector space.
We can choose the orthonormal basis vectors to those
specifying each of the discreet point.
|i =
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
0
0
.
.
.
0
1
0
.
.
.
0
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
with i|j =
ij
and
n

i=1
|ii| = I
The components of the vector |f are then the values of
the function at the discreet points
|f =
n

i=1
i|f|i with i|f = f(x
i
)
Lecture 10 1
Innite Dimensional Space (cont.)
The norm of |f is given by
f|f =
n

i=1
f

(x
i
)f(x
i
) =
n

i=1
|f(x
i
)|
2
As n increases, the norm of |f increases essentially
proportionally to n. For the continuous case where n
the norm goes to innity. This isnt good.
Lets redene the components of |f so that the norm
remains nite and essentially independent of n.
|f =
n

i=1
i|f|i now with i|f = f(x
i
)

L
where L =
L
n
Since L varies inversely with n, the norm is essential
independent of n
f|f =
n

i=1
f

(x
i
)f(x
i
)L =
n

i=1
|f(x
i
)|
2
L
Lecture 10 2
Innite Dimensional Space (cont.)
Lets now redene the basis vectors.
|x
i
=
1

L
|i such that x
i
|f = f(x
i
)
Note that these basis vectors are still orthoganal
x
i
|x
j
= 0 for i = j
but they are not normalized to unity. In fact
x
i
|x
i
as n
The completeness relation in term of this basis is then
n

i=1
|x
i
x
i
| L = I
|f =
n

i=1
x
i
|f|x
i
L =
n

i=1
f(x
i
)|x
i
L
f|f =
n

i=1
f|x
i
x
i
|fL =
n

i=1
f

(x
i
)f(x
i
)L
Lecture 10 3
Innite Dimension Space (cont.)
Were now ready to let n and go to the continuous
case. The sum over n will go an integral over x and L
will go to dx
L/2
_
L/2
|x

| dx

= I
|f =
L/2
_
L/2
x

|f|x

dx

=
L/2
_
L/2
f(x

)|x

dx

f|f =
L/2
_
L/2
f|x

|fdx

=
L/2
_
L/2
f

(x

)f(x

)dx

f|g =
L/2
_
L/2
f|x

|gdx

=
L/2
_
L/2
f

(x

)g(x

)dx

normalization: x|x

= (x x

)
Lecture 10 4
Operators in Innite Dimension Space
An operator, , in an innite dimensional space transforms
a vector, |f, in the vector space to another vector, |

f, in
the space.
|f = |g
In the x basis
x||f = x|g = g(x)
is represented by an innite dimension matrix.

xx
= x||x

x|g =

x||x

|fdx

Formally, we can write

f(x) = g(x)
What this really means though is

x||x

|fdx

= g(x)
Lecture 10 5
The Position Operator
Consider the operator, x, that when operating on a
function, f(x), has the eect of multiplying the function
by x.
x| x|f = xx|f = xf(x)
_
x| x|x

|fdx

= xf(x)
x| x|x

= x

(x x

)
The eigenvectors of x are the basis vectors, |x.
x| x|x
0
= x
0
(x x
0
) = x
0
x|x
0

As weve noted before, these eigenvectors have a delta

function rather than unity normalization.
Lecture 10 6
The Derivative Operator
Another natural operator to consider is the operation of
taking a derivative of a function.
x|

d|f = f

(x)
x|

d|f =

x|

d|x

|fdx

=
d
dx
f(x)
What are the matrix elements x|

d|x

?
Lecture 10 7
The Derivative of the Delta Function
The matrix elements of D are given by the derivative of
the delta function
x|

d|x

(x x

) =
d
dx
((x x

))

(x x

)f(x

)dx

d
dx
((x x

)) f(x

)dx

d
dx

((x x

)) f(x

)dx

(x x

)
_
d
dx

f(x

)
_
dx

+
_
f(x

)(x x

)
_

(x x

)
_
d
dx

f(x

)
_
dx

=
d
dx
f(x)
Lecture 10 8
The

k Operator
The operator

d is not Hermitian.
d
xx
=

(x x

) =
d
dx
(x x

) = (x x

)
d
dx
d

xx

= d

x
= D
x

x
=

(x

x) =
d
dx
(x

x)
= (x

x)
d
dx
= (x x

)
d
dx
= d
xx

Dene the operator

k = i

d
k
xx
= i

(x x

)
k

xx

= k

x
= k
x

x
= i

(x

x) = i

(xx

) = k
xx

For an innite dimension operator it is not sucient that

x|

k|x

= x

k|x

We must also show that

g|

k|f = f|

k|g

Lecture 10 9
Hermitivity of an Innite Dimension
Operator
g|

k|f = f|

k|g

b
_
a
b
_
a
g|xx|K|x

|fdxdx

=
_
b
_
a
b
_
a
f|xx|K|x

|gdxdx

i
b
_
a
g

(x)
_
df(x)
dx
_
dx = i
b
_
a
_
dg

(x)
dx
_
f(x)dx
but the left-hand side is
ig

(x)f(x)

b
a
+ i
b
_
a
_
dg

(x)
dx
_
f(x)dx
Hermitivity requires that f(x) or g(x) go to zero at
the limits a and b.
Lecture 10 10
Eigenvectors of

k
Let |k be an eignevector of

k with eigenvalue k.

k|k = k|k
Lets work in the x basis.
x|

k|k = kx|k = kk(x)

x|

k|x

|kdx

= kk(x)
i
d
dx

k
(x) = kk(x)
Solution: k(x) = Ae
ikx
Lecture 10 11
Normalization
Now lets normalize |k.
k|k

k|xx|k

dx = |A|
2

e
i(kk

)x
dx
= |A|
2
2(k k

)
Choose: A =
1

2
k|k

= (k k

)
As for the eigenvectors of x, these have delta function
normalization rather than unity normalization.
Lecture 10 12
Fourier Transforms
Lets nd the vector |f in the k-basis.

f(k) = k|f =

k|xx|fdx
=
1

e
ikx
f(x)dx
Similarly
f(x) = x|f =

x|kk|fdk
=
1

e
ikx

f(k)dk

f(k) and f(x) are the Fourier transforms of each other.

Lecture 10 13
Canonical Commutation Relation
The operators x and

k do not commute.
x| x|f = xf(x)
x|

k|f = i
df(x)
dx
x| x

k|f = ix
df(x)
dx
x|

k x|f = ix
d
dx
_
xf(x)
_
x|[ x,

k]|f = x|[ x,

k]|f x|[

k, x]|f
= ix
df(x)
dx
+ ix
df(x)
dx
+ if = if = ix|I|f
[ x,

k] = iI
This means that there are no vectors that are eigenvectors
of both x and

k. As you know and as well see, this leads to
one of the most important and basic features of quantum
mechanics.
Lecture 10 14
Reciprocity Between x and k
Representations
_
|x

| dx

= I
_
|k

| dk

= I
|f =
_
|x

f(x

) dx

=
_
|k

f(k

) dk

x|x

= (x x

) k|k

= (k k

)
x| x|x

= x(x x

) x|

k|x

= i

(x x

)
k| x|k

= i

(k k

) k|

k|k

= k(k k

)
x| x|f = xf(x) x|

k|f = if

(x)
k| x|f = i

f

(k) k|

k|f = k

f(k))
x|k =
1

2
e
ikx
k|x =
1

2
e
ikx
f(x) = x|f =
_
x|k

f(k

) dk

=
1

2
_
e
ik

x

f(k

) dk

Lecture 10 15
The Momentum Operator
The momentum operator is simply the k
operator multiplied by h.
p = h

k
x| p|f = ihf

(x)
[ x, p] = ihI
Lecture 10 16
Correspondence with the Wavefunction
Formalism
| =
_
|xx| dx =
_
|x(x) dx
(x) gives the components of | in the |x basis.
| =
_
|pp| dp =
_
|p

(p) dp

(p) gives the components of | in the |p basis.

x|p are the matrix elements of the unitary
transformation from the p basis to the x basis.
(x) = x| =
_
x|p

(p) dp =
1

2h
_
e
ipx/ h

(p) dp
Lecture 10 17
Hilbert Space
A Hilbert space is an innite dimensional complex
vector space of normalizable vectors.
f|f =
_
|f(x)|
2
dx is nite
The state of a quantum system is an element | of
a Hilbert space
_
|(x)|
2
dx =
_
|

(p)|
2
dp are nite
Note that the basis vectors |x and |p are not
elements of the Hilbert space since:
x|x = (0) and p|p = (0)
We also require that the components of vectors
corresponding to physical states be given by a
continuous function.
x| = (x) is a continuous functuon
This is a subset of a true Hilbert space and is called
a rigged or physics Hilbert space.
Lecture 10 18