Multiplying three vector operators

In summary: The quantum operators corresponding to ##\mathscr A_1## and ##\mathscr A_2## will be $$\mathbf A_1 = r_1\mathbf{p}_1$$$$\mathbf A_2 = r_2\mathbf{p}_2$$
  • #1
Kashmir
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Given vector operators as
$$\mathbf{A} = (A_{1}, A_{2} ,A_{3}) $$

$$\mathbf{B} = (B_{1}, B_{2} ,B_{3}) $$

$$\mathbf{C} = (C_{1}, C_{2} ,C_{3}) $$

I know that for two vector operators $$\begin{equation}
\mathbf{Q} \mathbf{P} = \sum_{\alpha = 1}^{3} Q_{\alpha} P_{\alpha}
\end{equation}$$

What is $$\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}\mathbf{C}$$ in component form?
 
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  • #2
Kashmir said:
Given vector operators as
$$\mathbf{A} = (A_{1}, A_{2} ,A_{3}) $$

$$\mathbf{B} = (B_{1}, B_{2} ,B_{3}) $$

$$\mathbf{C} = (C_{1}, C_{2} ,C_{3}) $$

I know that for two vector operators $$\begin{equation}
\mathbf{Q} \mathbf{P} = \sum_{\alpha = 1}^{3} Q_{\alpha} P_{\alpha}
\end{equation}$$

What is $$\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}\mathbf{C}$$ in component form?
You didn't specify what kind of product you are looking at. (There are several.) But from appearances you are doing an inner (or "dot") product.

So
##\displaystyle \textbf{A} \cdot \textbf{B} = \sum_{i = 1}^3 A_i B_i = \lambda##, which is a scalar, so

##\left ( \textbf{A} \cdot \textbf{B} \right ) \textbf{C} = \left ( \begin{matrix} \lambda C_1 \\ \lambda C_2 \\ \lambda C_3 \end{matrix} \right )##

There is also the cross product, but you have to specify which pair you are multiplying first as the cross product is not associative. And finally, there's the tensor product, but that one's easy as there isn't any mixing: ##\textbf{A} \otimes \textbf{B} \otimes \textbf{C}##. There isn't really much of a component form for this, just
##\left ( \begin{matrix} A_1 \\ A_2 \\ A_3 \end{matrix} \right ) \otimes \left ( \begin{matrix} B_1 \\ B_2 \\ B_3 \end{matrix} \right ) \otimes \left ( \begin{matrix} C_1 \\ C_2 \\ C_3 \end{matrix} \right )##

-Dan
 
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  • #3
Kashmir said:
Given vector operators as
$$\mathbf{A} = (A_{1}, A_{2} ,A_{3}) $$

$$\mathbf{B} = (B_{1}, B_{2} ,B_{3}) $$

$$\mathbf{C} = (C_{1}, C_{2} ,C_{3}) $$

I know that for two vector operators $$\begin{equation}
\mathbf{Q} \mathbf{P} = \sum_{\alpha = 1}^{3} Q_{\alpha} P_{\alpha}
\end{equation}$$

What is $$\mathbf{A}\mathbf{B}\mathbf{C}$$ in component form?
I wouldn't write it this way because it is ambiguous. I would write $$\begin{equation}
\mathbf{Q} \cdot \mathbf{P} = \sum_{\alpha = 1}^{3} Q_{\alpha} P_{\alpha}
\end{equation}$$ for clarity. This distinguishes between an operation ##\mathbf{Q} \cdot \mathbf{P}## which takes two vectors and produces a scalar and an operation ##\lambda \mathbf{Q}## which takes a vector and a scalar and produces a vector.

Note that ##(\mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{B}) \mathbf{C} \ne \mathbf{A}(\mathbf{B} \cdot \mathbf{C})## and also note that ##\mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{B} \cdot \mathbf{C}## does not exist nor does ##\mathbf{A} \mathbf{B} \mathbf{C}##
 
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  • #4
Thank you.

I'm looking for the product which appears as the result of quantisation rule which takes the classical expression to the quantum one.

Suppose the classical quantites we have are $$\mathscr A_1(\mathbf{r,p,t})=\mathbf{r(p.r)}$$

$$\mathscr A_2(\mathbf{r,p,t})=\mathbf{(r.p)r}$$

What will be the quantum operators ##\mathbf A_1##,##\mathbf A_2## corresponding to ##\mathscr A_1## and ##\mathscr A_2##?
 

FAQ: Multiplying three vector operators

What is meant by multiplying three vector operators?

Multiplying three vector operators refers to the process of combining three vector fields or vector operators in mathematical physics, often using operations like the dot product, cross product, or tensor product. This can be relevant in various contexts, such as electromagnetism or fluid dynamics, where vector quantities interact with each other.

What are the rules for multiplying vector operators?

The rules for multiplying vector operators depend on the type of multiplication being performed. For example, the dot product of two vectors results in a scalar, while the cross product results in another vector. When multiplying three vector operators, one must carefully apply the distributive property and consider the order of operations, as vector multiplication is not commutative.

Can you provide an example of multiplying three vector operators?

Certainly! Consider three vector operators A, B, and C. If we want to compute the cross product of A with the dot product of B and C, we would write it as A × (B · C). This operation first computes the dot product B · C, resulting in a scalar, and then takes the cross product of A with that scalar, which is not defined. However, if we compute (A × B) · C, we first perform the cross product A × B, yielding a new vector, and then take the dot product of that vector with C, resulting in a scalar.

What physical significance does multiplying vector operators have?

Multiplying vector operators has significant implications in physics, as it can represent various physical phenomena. For instance, in electromagnetism, the vector potential can be multiplied with electric and magnetic fields to describe the behavior of charged particles. Additionally, in fluid dynamics, the multiplication of velocity fields can help analyze flow patterns and forces acting on fluids.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid when multiplying three vector operators?

Yes, common mistakes include neglecting the order of operations, misunderstanding the properties of vector multiplication (such as commutativity and associativity), and incorrectly applying the distributive property. It’s also important to be cautious about the dimensions of the resulting quantities, as mixing scalars and vectors without proper attention can lead to incorrect results.

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