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Naming Quantum Operators

Keywords: Operators, Observables, Matrix representation, Quantum Mechanics

spquanop.jpg

Highlights of the activity

  1. Students are asked to name any quantum operators they can think of.
  2. A comprehensive list of operators seen thus far in the course will be presented for students to recall and record.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

After presenting students a crash course in the quantum operators necessary to analyze the x, y, and z-oriented Stern-Gerlach experiments, students will benefit from a short summary of the operators seen thus far in the course. In particular, the Stern-Gerlach experiment with a general orientation $S_{\hat{n}}$ can also be presented and described more thoroughly. The $S^{2}$ operator can also be introduced as $\vec{S} \cdot \vec{S}$.

Reflections

Instructor's Guide


Authors: Corinne Manogue
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