Quantum Mechanics: Commutation Relation

Proofs

16th April 2008

I. Proof for Non-Commutativity of Indivdual Quantum Angular

Momentum Operators
In this section, we will show that the operators L̂x , L̂y , L̂z do not commute
with one another, and hence cannot be known simultaneously. The relations
are (reiterating from previous lectures):
 
∂ ∂
L̂x = −ih̄ y −z
∂z ∂y

 
∂ ∂
L̂y = −ih̄ z −x
∂x ∂z

 
∂ ∂
L̂z = −ih̄ x −y
∂y ∂x
We would like to proove the following commutation relations:

[L̂x , L̂y ] = i h̄ L̂z ,

[L̂y , L̂z ] = i h̄ L̂x ,

[L̂z , L̂x ] = i h̄ L̂y .

We will use the first relation for our proof; the second and third follow analo-
gously. Let’s also consider a function, f (x, y, z) that we will have the opera-
tors act upon in our discussion. The expanded version of [ L̂x , L̂y ] = i h̄ L̂z is:

     
[L̂x , L̂y ] = L̂x L̂y − L̂y L̂x

1
      
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= y −z z −x − z −x y −z
∂z ∂y ∂x ∂z ∂x ∂z ∂z ∂y
Now let’s expand the operators (ignore the underbraces and numbers for
now):

  
   ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
L̂x L̂y = y −z z −x
∂z ∂y ∂x ∂z
       
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
=y z −y x −z z +z x
∂z ∂x ∂z ∂z ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂z
       
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
=y +z −y x −z z +z x
∂x ∂z ∂x ∂z ∂z ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂z
| {z } | {z } | {z } | {z }
1 2 3 4
  
Likewise for the L̂y L̂x term:

  
   ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
L̂y L̂x = z −x y −z
∂x ∂z ∂z ∂y
       
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
=z y −z z −x y +x z
∂x ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂z ∂y
       
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
=z y −z z −x y +x +z
∂x ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂y ∂z ∂y
| {z } | {z } | {z } | {z }
5 6 7 8

Combining terms and noting that [x̂, ŷ] = 0 and [p̂ x , p̂y ] = 0. We will com-
bine terms as follows: (1-8), (2-7), (3-6), and (4-5).

   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
(1 − 8) = y +z −x +z
∂x ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂y
   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= y −x + yz − xz
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂z ∂y
   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= y −x + zy − zx (recall the commutation relations noted!
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂z ∂y ∂z
   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= y −x +z y −x
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂z
| {z }
9

2
 ∂2 ∂2
(2 − 7) = xy − yx
∂z 2 ∂z 2
∂2
= (xy − yx) 2
∂z
∂2
= [x, y] 2
∂z
∂2
= (0) 2 = 0
∂z

∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
(3 − 6) = z 2 − z2
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
 
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
= z2 −
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
2
= z (p̂x p̂y − p̂y p̂x )
= z 2 [p̂x , p̂y ] = 0 (p̂x and p̂y commute!)

∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
(4 − 5) = zx − zy
∂y ∂z ∂x ∂z
 
∂ ∂ ∂
= z x −y
∂y ∂x ∂z
| {z }
10

If we add the expressions 9 and 10, inserting a factor of −ih̄ for each partial
derivative that represents a momentum operator, we obtain:

 
∂ ∂
[L̂x , L̂y ] = −h̄2 y −x
∂x ∂y
 
∂ ∂
= h̄2 x −y
∂y ∂x
But,

 
∂ ∂
L̂z = −ih̄ x −y
∂y ∂x
Thus,

[L̂x , L̂y ] = i h̄ L̂z