Prove that if the expectation value of an operator in any state is 1, the operator is Identity












3












$begingroup$


I want to prove that if $ langle psi | A | psi rangle = 1$ for all $ psi ,$ then $A=I .$



Let's write $A$ and $psi$ in the same basis.



$$
begin{alignat}{7}
leftlangle psi middle| A middle| psi rightrangle & ~=~ && left( sum_w alpha_w^* langle w | right) left(sum_{pq} gamma_{pq} |prangle langle q| right) left(sum_v alpha_v | v rangle right) \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wvpq} alpha_w^* gamma_{pq} alpha_v langle w | p rangle langle q | v rangle \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wv} alpha_w^* gamma_{wv} alpha_v
end{alignat}
$$



which is equal to $1 .$



We know that the $alpha$'s can be anything, and we need to prove that the $gamma$'s where $w = v$ are $1$ and when $w neq v$ is $0 .$



How do I proceed?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Can we prove it in the opposite direction (i.e. contra-positive)? if $A neq I$, then $langle psi | A | psi rangle neq 1$ for some $psi$
    $endgroup$
    – K_inverse
    Jan 21 at 8:37








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You say the $alpha$'s can be anything but surely they need to be normalised?
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 10:17










  • $begingroup$
    @jacob1729, true, they need to be normalised
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 10:18










  • $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati if $alpha$'s are normalised then one (long winded) way of writing the number 1 is $1=sum alpha^*_w delta_{wv}alpha_v$.
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 11:31


















3












$begingroup$


I want to prove that if $ langle psi | A | psi rangle = 1$ for all $ psi ,$ then $A=I .$



Let's write $A$ and $psi$ in the same basis.



$$
begin{alignat}{7}
leftlangle psi middle| A middle| psi rightrangle & ~=~ && left( sum_w alpha_w^* langle w | right) left(sum_{pq} gamma_{pq} |prangle langle q| right) left(sum_v alpha_v | v rangle right) \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wvpq} alpha_w^* gamma_{pq} alpha_v langle w | p rangle langle q | v rangle \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wv} alpha_w^* gamma_{wv} alpha_v
end{alignat}
$$



which is equal to $1 .$



We know that the $alpha$'s can be anything, and we need to prove that the $gamma$'s where $w = v$ are $1$ and when $w neq v$ is $0 .$



How do I proceed?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Can we prove it in the opposite direction (i.e. contra-positive)? if $A neq I$, then $langle psi | A | psi rangle neq 1$ for some $psi$
    $endgroup$
    – K_inverse
    Jan 21 at 8:37








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You say the $alpha$'s can be anything but surely they need to be normalised?
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 10:17










  • $begingroup$
    @jacob1729, true, they need to be normalised
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 10:18










  • $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati if $alpha$'s are normalised then one (long winded) way of writing the number 1 is $1=sum alpha^*_w delta_{wv}alpha_v$.
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 11:31
















3












3








3





$begingroup$


I want to prove that if $ langle psi | A | psi rangle = 1$ for all $ psi ,$ then $A=I .$



Let's write $A$ and $psi$ in the same basis.



$$
begin{alignat}{7}
leftlangle psi middle| A middle| psi rightrangle & ~=~ && left( sum_w alpha_w^* langle w | right) left(sum_{pq} gamma_{pq} |prangle langle q| right) left(sum_v alpha_v | v rangle right) \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wvpq} alpha_w^* gamma_{pq} alpha_v langle w | p rangle langle q | v rangle \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wv} alpha_w^* gamma_{wv} alpha_v
end{alignat}
$$



which is equal to $1 .$



We know that the $alpha$'s can be anything, and we need to prove that the $gamma$'s where $w = v$ are $1$ and when $w neq v$ is $0 .$



How do I proceed?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




I want to prove that if $ langle psi | A | psi rangle = 1$ for all $ psi ,$ then $A=I .$



Let's write $A$ and $psi$ in the same basis.



$$
begin{alignat}{7}
leftlangle psi middle| A middle| psi rightrangle & ~=~ && left( sum_w alpha_w^* langle w | right) left(sum_{pq} gamma_{pq} |prangle langle q| right) left(sum_v alpha_v | v rangle right) \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wvpq} alpha_w^* gamma_{pq} alpha_v langle w | p rangle langle q | v rangle \[5px]
& ~=~ && sum_{wv} alpha_w^* gamma_{wv} alpha_v
end{alignat}
$$



which is equal to $1 .$



We know that the $alpha$'s can be anything, and we need to prove that the $gamma$'s where $w = v$ are $1$ and when $w neq v$ is $0 .$



How do I proceed?







quantum-mechanics homework-and-exercises operators hilbert-space






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Jan 21 at 9:38









Qmechanic

106k121921211




106k121921211










asked Jan 21 at 7:55









Mahathi VempatiMahathi Vempati

2961521




2961521








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Can we prove it in the opposite direction (i.e. contra-positive)? if $A neq I$, then $langle psi | A | psi rangle neq 1$ for some $psi$
    $endgroup$
    – K_inverse
    Jan 21 at 8:37








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You say the $alpha$'s can be anything but surely they need to be normalised?
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 10:17










  • $begingroup$
    @jacob1729, true, they need to be normalised
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 10:18










  • $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati if $alpha$'s are normalised then one (long winded) way of writing the number 1 is $1=sum alpha^*_w delta_{wv}alpha_v$.
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 11:31
















  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Can we prove it in the opposite direction (i.e. contra-positive)? if $A neq I$, then $langle psi | A | psi rangle neq 1$ for some $psi$
    $endgroup$
    – K_inverse
    Jan 21 at 8:37








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You say the $alpha$'s can be anything but surely they need to be normalised?
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 10:17










  • $begingroup$
    @jacob1729, true, they need to be normalised
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 10:18










  • $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati if $alpha$'s are normalised then one (long winded) way of writing the number 1 is $1=sum alpha^*_w delta_{wv}alpha_v$.
    $endgroup$
    – jacob1729
    Jan 21 at 11:31










1




1




$begingroup$
Can we prove it in the opposite direction (i.e. contra-positive)? if $A neq I$, then $langle psi | A | psi rangle neq 1$ for some $psi$
$endgroup$
– K_inverse
Jan 21 at 8:37






$begingroup$
Can we prove it in the opposite direction (i.e. contra-positive)? if $A neq I$, then $langle psi | A | psi rangle neq 1$ for some $psi$
$endgroup$
– K_inverse
Jan 21 at 8:37






1




1




$begingroup$
You say the $alpha$'s can be anything but surely they need to be normalised?
$endgroup$
– jacob1729
Jan 21 at 10:17




$begingroup$
You say the $alpha$'s can be anything but surely they need to be normalised?
$endgroup$
– jacob1729
Jan 21 at 10:17












$begingroup$
@jacob1729, true, they need to be normalised
$endgroup$
– Mahathi Vempati
Jan 21 at 10:18




$begingroup$
@jacob1729, true, they need to be normalised
$endgroup$
– Mahathi Vempati
Jan 21 at 10:18












$begingroup$
@MahathiVempati if $alpha$'s are normalised then one (long winded) way of writing the number 1 is $1=sum alpha^*_w delta_{wv}alpha_v$.
$endgroup$
– jacob1729
Jan 21 at 11:31






$begingroup$
@MahathiVempati if $alpha$'s are normalised then one (long winded) way of writing the number 1 is $1=sum alpha^*_w delta_{wv}alpha_v$.
$endgroup$
– jacob1729
Jan 21 at 11:31












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$

We have the freedom to expand $A$ in its eigenbasis, then
begin{equation}
A = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert Avertalpharangle langle alphavert = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert = 1,
end{equation}

where in the second equality we used that by assumption $langle alphavert Avertalpharangle=1$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 9:12






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
    $endgroup$
    – lcv
    Jan 21 at 19:19










  • $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
    $endgroup$
    – lcv
    Jan 22 at 9:03



















4












$begingroup$

Loewe's proof is very slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized.
Here is a proof with no such restriction.



First, setting $B=A-I$ the statements becomes



$$
langle psi, B psi rangle=0 , forall parallel psi parallel=1 Rightarrow B = 0.
$$



By going to a basis, reasoning as the OP, one obtains



$$
sum_{i,j} psi_i^ast psi_j B_{i,j} =0
$$



from which one obtains that the hermitian part of $B$ must be zero. I.e., the statements holds if $B$ (and hence $A$) is hermitian. Loewe's proves it for the more general case for which $A$ can be diagonalized.



For full generality the trick is to realize that we also have information on the off-diagonal elements of $B$ via the polarization identity.



Define



$$
q(psi) = langle psi, Bpsi rangle
$$



then



$$
langle phi, B psi rangle = frac{1}{4} sum_{n=0}^3 i^n q(phi + i^n psi)
$$



but by assumption $q(xi)=0$ for all $xi$, hence $langle phi, B psi rangle =0$ for all $phi,psi$, hence $B=0$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













    Your Answer





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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5












    $begingroup$

    We have the freedom to expand $A$ in its eigenbasis, then
    begin{equation}
    A = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert Avertalpharangle langle alphavert = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert = 1,
    end{equation}

    where in the second equality we used that by assumption $langle alphavert Avertalpharangle=1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
      $endgroup$
      – Mahathi Vempati
      Jan 21 at 9:12






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 21 at 19:19










    • $begingroup$
      @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 22 at 9:03
















    5












    $begingroup$

    We have the freedom to expand $A$ in its eigenbasis, then
    begin{equation}
    A = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert Avertalpharangle langle alphavert = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert = 1,
    end{equation}

    where in the second equality we used that by assumption $langle alphavert Avertalpharangle=1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
      $endgroup$
      – Mahathi Vempati
      Jan 21 at 9:12






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 21 at 19:19










    • $begingroup$
      @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 22 at 9:03














    5












    5








    5





    $begingroup$

    We have the freedom to expand $A$ in its eigenbasis, then
    begin{equation}
    A = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert Avertalpharangle langle alphavert = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert = 1,
    end{equation}

    where in the second equality we used that by assumption $langle alphavert Avertalpharangle=1$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    We have the freedom to expand $A$ in its eigenbasis, then
    begin{equation}
    A = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert Avertalpharangle langle alphavert = sum_{alpha} vertalpharangle langle alphavert = 1,
    end{equation}

    where in the second equality we used that by assumption $langle alphavert Avertalpharangle=1$.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered Jan 21 at 8:40









    loeweloewe

    420213




    420213












    • $begingroup$
      Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
      $endgroup$
      – Mahathi Vempati
      Jan 21 at 9:12






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 21 at 19:19










    • $begingroup$
      @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 22 at 9:03


















    • $begingroup$
      Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
      $endgroup$
      – Mahathi Vempati
      Jan 21 at 9:12






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 21 at 19:19










    • $begingroup$
      @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
      $endgroup$
      – lcv
      Jan 22 at 9:03
















    $begingroup$
    Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 9:12




    $begingroup$
    Thank you! Is it possible to continue my line of proof, though?
    $endgroup$
    – Mahathi Vempati
    Jan 21 at 9:12




    3




    3




    $begingroup$
    This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
    $endgroup$
    – lcv
    Jan 21 at 19:19




    $begingroup$
    This is slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized..
    $endgroup$
    – lcv
    Jan 21 at 19:19












    $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
    $endgroup$
    – lcv
    Jan 22 at 9:03




    $begingroup$
    @MahathiVempati I sort of addressed your comment.
    $endgroup$
    – lcv
    Jan 22 at 9:03











    4












    $begingroup$

    Loewe's proof is very slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized.
    Here is a proof with no such restriction.



    First, setting $B=A-I$ the statements becomes



    $$
    langle psi, B psi rangle=0 , forall parallel psi parallel=1 Rightarrow B = 0.
    $$



    By going to a basis, reasoning as the OP, one obtains



    $$
    sum_{i,j} psi_i^ast psi_j B_{i,j} =0
    $$



    from which one obtains that the hermitian part of $B$ must be zero. I.e., the statements holds if $B$ (and hence $A$) is hermitian. Loewe's proves it for the more general case for which $A$ can be diagonalized.



    For full generality the trick is to realize that we also have information on the off-diagonal elements of $B$ via the polarization identity.



    Define



    $$
    q(psi) = langle psi, Bpsi rangle
    $$



    then



    $$
    langle phi, B psi rangle = frac{1}{4} sum_{n=0}^3 i^n q(phi + i^n psi)
    $$



    but by assumption $q(xi)=0$ for all $xi$, hence $langle phi, B psi rangle =0$ for all $phi,psi$, hence $B=0$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      4












      $begingroup$

      Loewe's proof is very slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized.
      Here is a proof with no such restriction.



      First, setting $B=A-I$ the statements becomes



      $$
      langle psi, B psi rangle=0 , forall parallel psi parallel=1 Rightarrow B = 0.
      $$



      By going to a basis, reasoning as the OP, one obtains



      $$
      sum_{i,j} psi_i^ast psi_j B_{i,j} =0
      $$



      from which one obtains that the hermitian part of $B$ must be zero. I.e., the statements holds if $B$ (and hence $A$) is hermitian. Loewe's proves it for the more general case for which $A$ can be diagonalized.



      For full generality the trick is to realize that we also have information on the off-diagonal elements of $B$ via the polarization identity.



      Define



      $$
      q(psi) = langle psi, Bpsi rangle
      $$



      then



      $$
      langle phi, B psi rangle = frac{1}{4} sum_{n=0}^3 i^n q(phi + i^n psi)
      $$



      but by assumption $q(xi)=0$ for all $xi$, hence $langle phi, B psi rangle =0$ for all $phi,psi$, hence $B=0$.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        4












        4








        4





        $begingroup$

        Loewe's proof is very slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized.
        Here is a proof with no such restriction.



        First, setting $B=A-I$ the statements becomes



        $$
        langle psi, B psi rangle=0 , forall parallel psi parallel=1 Rightarrow B = 0.
        $$



        By going to a basis, reasoning as the OP, one obtains



        $$
        sum_{i,j} psi_i^ast psi_j B_{i,j} =0
        $$



        from which one obtains that the hermitian part of $B$ must be zero. I.e., the statements holds if $B$ (and hence $A$) is hermitian. Loewe's proves it for the more general case for which $A$ can be diagonalized.



        For full generality the trick is to realize that we also have information on the off-diagonal elements of $B$ via the polarization identity.



        Define



        $$
        q(psi) = langle psi, Bpsi rangle
        $$



        then



        $$
        langle phi, B psi rangle = frac{1}{4} sum_{n=0}^3 i^n q(phi + i^n psi)
        $$



        but by assumption $q(xi)=0$ for all $xi$, hence $langle phi, B psi rangle =0$ for all $phi,psi$, hence $B=0$.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Loewe's proof is very slick but assumes that $A$ can be diagonalized.
        Here is a proof with no such restriction.



        First, setting $B=A-I$ the statements becomes



        $$
        langle psi, B psi rangle=0 , forall parallel psi parallel=1 Rightarrow B = 0.
        $$



        By going to a basis, reasoning as the OP, one obtains



        $$
        sum_{i,j} psi_i^ast psi_j B_{i,j} =0
        $$



        from which one obtains that the hermitian part of $B$ must be zero. I.e., the statements holds if $B$ (and hence $A$) is hermitian. Loewe's proves it for the more general case for which $A$ can be diagonalized.



        For full generality the trick is to realize that we also have information on the off-diagonal elements of $B$ via the polarization identity.



        Define



        $$
        q(psi) = langle psi, Bpsi rangle
        $$



        then



        $$
        langle phi, B psi rangle = frac{1}{4} sum_{n=0}^3 i^n q(phi + i^n psi)
        $$



        but by assumption $q(xi)=0$ for all $xi$, hence $langle phi, B psi rangle =0$ for all $phi,psi$, hence $B=0$.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Jan 21 at 19:16









        lcvlcv

        57326




        57326






























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