- #1
yosimba2000
- 206
- 9
If Eψ = Hψ, then why is expected energy ∫ψ*Hψ dx? It makes more sense if I see the ψ on the right side of H as the ψ in ∫Q(ψ*ψ) dx, where Q is some quantity we want to measure the expectation of.
But if true, then since H is defined as (h2/2m) (d2/dx) + V, then what does it mean to calculate the expectation value of H? H has no argument for the second derivative term.
Or another way is, since Eψ = Hψ, then E = H, then H = (h2/2m) (d2/dx) + V = E. How can you get a number from H if you don't take the derivative of anything?
But if true, then since H is defined as (h2/2m) (d2/dx) + V, then what does it mean to calculate the expectation value of H? H has no argument for the second derivative term.
Or another way is, since Eψ = Hψ, then E = H, then H = (h2/2m) (d2/dx) + V = E. How can you get a number from H if you don't take the derivative of anything?