Introduction to Quantum Mechanics · Problem A.14

Afterword — David J. Griffiths

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · changing-bases

Problem

Using the standard basis (i^,j^,k^)\left(\hat{i}, \hat{j}, \hat{k}\right) for vectors in three dimensions: (a) Construct the matrix representing a rotation through angle θ\theta (counterclockwise, looking down the axis toward the origin) about the zz axis. (b) Construct the matrix representing a rotation by 120∘120^\circ (counterclockwise, looking down the axis) about an axis through the point (1,1,1)(1,1,1). (c) Construct the matrix representing reflection through the xyxy plane. (d) Check that all these matrices are orthogonal, and calculate their determinants.

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