Introduction to Quantum Mechanics · Problem 6.27

Symmetries and Conservation Laws — David J. Griffiths

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · free_particle_heisenberg

Problem

Consider a free particle of mass mm. Show that the position and momentum operators in the Heisenberg picture are given by x^H(t)=x^H(0)+1m p^H(0) t\hat{x}_H(t) = \hat{x}_H(0) + \frac{1}{m}\,\hat{p}_H(0)\,t p^H(t)=p^H(0).\hat{p}_H(t) = \hat{p}_H(0). Comment on the relationship between these equations and the classical equations of motion. *Hint*: you will first need to evaluate the commutator [x^, H^n]\left[\hat{x},\,\hat{H}^n\right]; this will allow you to evaluate the commutator [x^, U^]\left[\hat{x},\,\hat{U}\right].

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