English

Self-adjoint extensions of operators and the teaching of quantum mechanics

Quantum Physics 2009-11-07 v1 High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

For the example of the infinitely deep well potential, we point out some paradoxes which are solved by a careful analysis of what is a truly self-adjoint operator. We then describe the self-adjoint extensions and their spectra for the momentum and the Hamiltonian operators in different physical situations. Some consequences are worked out, which could lead to experimental checks.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0103153,
  title  = {Self-adjoint extensions of operators and the teaching of quantum mechanics},
  author = {Guy Bonneau and Jacques Faraut and Galliano Valent},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0103153},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

25 pages, Latex file, extended version of Am. J. Phys. 69 (2001) 322