Significance of the hamiltonian commuting

In summary, the Hamiltonian commuting is an important concept in classical and quantum mechanics, referring to physical quantities that commute with the Hamiltonian. It is closely related to symmetries in physics and has implications for the behavior and mathematical analysis of physical systems. Some examples of Hamiltonian commuting quantities include energy, momentum, and angular momentum. It also has various real-world applications in different fields of physics.
  • #1
sridhar
19
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Wht is the significance of an operator commuting with the hamiltonian??
Its definitely more than them being measurable simultaneously and precisely!
 
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  • #2
sridhar said:
Wht is the significance of an operator commuting with the hamiltonian??
Its definitely more than them being measurable simultaneously and precisely!

It means that this physical quantity is conserved in time. In other words, if a state is an eigenstate fo this other operator at t=0, it will remain an eigenstate of that operator at later time. This is because the Hamiltonian is the operator that governs the time evolution of the system.
 
  • #3


The significance of an operator commuting with the Hamiltonian lies in the fact that it represents a conserved quantity in a physical system. This means that the operator and the Hamiltonian share the same set of eigenstates, and the corresponding eigenvalues are constant over time. This has important implications in quantum mechanics, as it allows us to make precise predictions about the behavior of a system.

Furthermore, the commutation of an operator with the Hamiltonian indicates that the operator represents a physical observable that is independent of time. This is a fundamental property of systems described by the laws of quantum mechanics, and it allows us to study the evolution of a system by simply studying the behavior of the Hamiltonian.

In addition, the commutation of an operator with the Hamiltonian also implies that the operator is a symmetry of the system. This means that the operator leaves the system unchanged under its action, and this symmetry can provide valuable insights into the underlying physical principles governing the system.

Overall, the significance of an operator commuting with the Hamiltonian goes beyond just the ability to measure them simultaneously. It represents a fundamental property of a physical system and provides us with crucial information about its behavior and underlying symmetries.
 

FAQ: Significance of the hamiltonian commuting

What is the significance of the Hamiltonian commuting?

The Hamiltonian commuting, also known as the Poisson commuting or the Casimir functions, is an important concept in classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. It refers to a set of physical quantities that commute with the Hamiltonian, meaning they have the same values at all points in time. This has many implications in the study of dynamical systems and symmetries in physics.

How does the Hamiltonian commuting relate to symmetries in physics?

The Hamiltonian commuting is closely related to symmetries in physics. In fact, the existence of these commuting quantities is often linked to the existence of symmetries in a physical system. This is because symmetries are characterized by the preservation of certain quantities, and these quantities are often the Hamiltonian commuting ones.

What are some examples of Hamiltonian commuting quantities?

Some common examples of Hamiltonian commuting quantities include energy, momentum, angular momentum, and the square of the total angular momentum. These quantities are all conserved in isolated systems and are therefore considered to be Hamiltonian commuting.

How does the Hamiltonian commuting affect the behavior of a physical system?

The Hamiltonian commuting plays a crucial role in determining the behavior of a physical system. The existence of these quantities implies that the system has certain symmetries, which in turn can lead to the conservation of energy and other physical quantities. This can also help simplify the mathematical description of the system and make it easier to analyze.

Are there any real-world applications of the Hamiltonian commuting?

Yes, there are many real-world applications of the Hamiltonian commuting. For example, it is used in the study of classical and quantum mechanics, as well as in the field of mathematical physics. It also has applications in areas such as fluid dynamics, statistical mechanics, and quantum field theory, among others.

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