Matrix Exponentials
Highlights of the activity
- This small group activity is designed to introduce students to finding matrix exponentials.
- Students work in small groups to find the exponential of the general spin-1/2 operator in matrix form.
- The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes that the resulting infinite series alternates between the original matrix and the identity matrix, allowing the infinite sum to be split.
Reasons to spend class time on the activity
This activity is important because it prepares students to do longer and more involved homework exercises practicing the calculation of matrix exponentials. Students likely have not previously found matrix exponentials, and the math tricks involved should be introduced in class in a way that allows students to stumble over them where they have in-class help.