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sjss246melloIn classical mechanics, observables are measurable values determined by the system’s exact state.
In quantum mechanics, observables are operators acting on a probabilistic wavefunction, and measurements
yield discrete outcomes governed by probability.
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Observables
In Quantum Mechanics, observables are physical properties of a system that can be measured, such as position,
momentum, energy, and angular momentum. These observables are represented by mathematical operators has a
corresponding operator (Hermitian operators).
In quantum mechanics these are represented mathematically as operators acting on quantum
states in a
Hilbert space.
Operators
Operators are rules to convert a function or number into another a function or number. Operators are symbolized by a ^
above a letter. These operators are also called as Hermitian operator.
The eigenvalues of these operators correspond to the possible values that can be obtained when the observable is
measured.
Observables take real values only. Therefore we must require that the operators that represent observables have only real
eigenvalues, since we want to identify the eigenvalues with the possible results of measurements.
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We can guarantee this if we only use Hermitian operators to represent observables.
Hermitian Operators
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How are we going to represent physics quantities?
Physical quantities (observables) are represented by linear operators on Hilbert space.
We have to change our language little bit…
We are going to use the word “Observable” for any physical quantity that we are going to measure for our particle.
This may include position, momentum, energy, angular momentum or any combination of those – basically anything we
can measure and therefore observe from our particle.
Physical observables are represented by some linear operator on our space of kets.
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Given an observable , how would we get the possible values that we can
measure?
Lets take an example of linear momentum.
Assume we are measuring the angular momentum of a particle, and the value obtained is L = 1.14 N.m.s.
This particle is represented by a particular quantum state that corresponds to having that outcome of angular
momentum as,
How do we represent for more than one outcome for the same particle?
Now if we get that the particle has angular momentum of 2.44 N.m.s, then the particle would be in a quantum state
corresponding to that outcome.
(since N = kg * m/s², then N * m * s = (kg * m/s²) * m * s = kg m²/s. This shows that N⋅m⋅s is dimensionally equivalent to kg m²/s)
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So we have a list of possible measured values and kets representing states that 100% have the value.
We call these states as definite states. In these special states, our particle has a definite 100% certain value
for angular momentum.
Now how do we get this list from the angular momentum operator?
We can get it from the Eigen value and Eigen vectors
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Conclusion :
→ Every physical observable is represented by a linear operator in this vector space.
→ To figure out all the possible values of that observable, find the Eigen values.
→ To figure out which state corresponds to having that particular value, find the Eigen vector.
This is the fundamental frame work for how we represent observables in quantum mechanics.
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In quantum mechanics, the expectation value represents the average value of a measurement that would be
obtained from a large number of identical systems, each described by the same quantum state.
It's not necessarily the most probable outcome of a single measurement, but rather the long-term average of
many measurements (or otherwise, it represents the average behavior over many repeated experiments).
In simple … The expectation value is the average of all the measured values, weighted by their respective
probabilities
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Problems
1) A 7 kg dog is running at a rate of 2.3 m/s. What is the uncertainty in the position of
the dog if its speed is measured within 0.01 m/s?
2) Calculate the uncertainty in the position of a particle moving at a speed of
5.8×105 m/s and has an uncertainty in its velocity of 2.66×105 m/s. The mass of the
particle is 2.16×10–28 kg. the dog if its speed is measured within 0.01 m/s?
Sequential Stern-Gerlach Experiment