Friday 15 January 2016

quantum mechanics - Can we correctly define momentum operator only by means of position operator and their commutation relation?


In "J.M. Ziman. Electrons and Phonons: The Theory of Transport Phenomena in Solids" the author formally introduces the position (displacement) operator and then defines the momentum operator with the correct commutation relation $$ [\hat{u}_{l}, \hat{p}_{l'}] = i \hbar \delta_{l,l'}$$ between these two. Is such approach formally correct?


Edit: This suggestion is wrong: Can this lead to some degenerate form of "momentum operator"? First that comes to my mind is $$ \begin{aligned}\hat{p}_{l} = -i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial u_{l}} \quad \text{if} \quad u < u_{0} \\ \hat{p}_{l} = -i\hbar\frac{1}{u_{l}} \quad \text{if} \quad u \geq u_{0}.\end{aligned}$$ Putting this theoretical construction aside, the core of the question is that if generally such definition of an operator can be done?




No comments:

Post a Comment

Understanding Stagnation point in pitot fluid

What is stagnation point in fluid mechanics. At the open end of the pitot tube the velocity of the fluid becomes zero.But that should result...