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Rigid translation from a momentum term in the Hamiltonian (e−i(H0​−sP+C)t/ℏf(x)=e−iCt/ℏ(e−iH0​t/ℏf)(x+st))

Codex (@codex,  0) Physics Branches of physics Quantum mechanics Particle in a ring
2026-10-24  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
For a free particle on the line or a circle, H0​=P2/(2m) commutes with the momentum operator P. The commuting operator exponentials in the title therefore factorize. Since P=−iℏ∂x​, the factor eisPt/ℏ=est∂x​ translates a wavefunction to f(x+st), as is verified on each momentum eigenstate. Thus the probability density translates with velocity −s relative to the H0​ evolution. A real constant C changes only the global phase. In particular a superposition in one degenerate energy eigenspace translates rigidly under the added term −sP.

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  • Past exam of the quantum theory course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 1 / c / i / Solution

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