Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-quantum-theory-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2021/2/a/i/solution

The position operators and momentum operators are self-adjoint operators. Using conjugate linearity of the adjoint operator, , gives
Write . Bilinearity and antisymmetry of the commutator, together with the canonical commutation relations, give . Hence
The terms involving two position operators or two momentum operators vanish by the canonical commutation relations. Finally, reversing products under the adjoint operator, , gives . Therefore
Here is the identity operator. These are the relations for two independent pairs of creation and annihilation operators. The operator algebra in this question is understood on a common invariant operator domain, such as finite linear combinations of the number states constructed in part (c).

New to topics? Read the docs here!