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Finding Matrix Elements

Keywords: matrix, vector, bra-ket

prmatrixelems.jpg

Highlights of the activity

  1. Students review the ideas of projecting a vector onto a basis vector and “operating on” a vector with a matrix using bra-ket notation.
  2. Students carry out explicit matrix and bra-ket calculations to find matrix elements, e.g., $\langle2|A|1\rangle$.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This activity helps students to practice using basis vectors to extract elements from a matrix in both matrix language and in bra-ket notation.

Reflections

Instructor's Guide

Student Handouts

prmatrixelemshand.pdf

prmatrixelemshand.tex


Authors: Corinne Manogue, Kerry Browne
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