Translation operator

Masatsugu Sei Suzuki

Department of Physics, SUNY at Binghamton
(Date: November 19, 2013)

Here we discuss the translation operator. The linear momentum is a generator of the
translation. This is in contrast to the rotation operator where the angular momentum is a
generator of the operation.

1 Definition of the translation operator

Here we discuss the transportation operator

Tˆ (a ) : translation operator (unitary operator)

 '  Tˆ (a )  ,

or

 '   ' Tˆ  (a) .

(i) Analogy from classical mechanics for x

The average value of x̂ in the new state  ' is equal to the average value of x̂ in the
new state  plus the x-displacement a.

 ' xˆ  '   xˆ  a  ,

or

 Tˆ  (a) xˆTˆ (a)    xˆ  a  ,

or

Tˆ  (a) xˆTˆ (a)  xˆ  a1̂ . (1)

Normalization condition:

 '  '   Tˆ  (a)Tˆ (a)     ,

or

Tˆ  (a)Tˆ (a)  1̂ , (2)

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((Unitary operator))
From Eqs.(1) and (2), we have

xˆTˆ (a)  Tˆ (a)( xˆ  a)  Tˆ (a) xˆ  aTˆ (a) .

((Commutation relation))

[ xˆ, Tˆ (a)]  aTˆ (a) .

Here we note that

xˆTˆ (a ) x  Tˆ (a) xˆ x  aTˆ (a) x  ( x  a)Tˆ (a) x .

Thus Tˆ (a) x is the eigenket of x̂ with the eigenvalue (x+a)

Tˆ (a) x  x  a .

We note that

Tˆ  ( a )Tˆ ( a ) x  Tˆ  ( a ) x  a  x .

When x is replaced by x-a,

Tˆ  ( a ) x  x  a ,

or

x  a  Tˆ  (a) x ,

or

x  a  x Tˆ (a ) .

Note that

x  '  x Tˆ (a)   x  a    ( x  a) .

(ii) Analogy from the classical mechanics for p

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 The average value of p̂ in the new state  ' is equal to the average value of p̂ in
the new state  .

 ' pˆ  '   pˆ  ,

or

 Tˆ  (a) pˆ Tˆ (a )    pˆ  ,

Tˆ  (a) pˆ Tˆ (a)  pˆ .

So we have the commutation relation

[Tˆ (a ), pˆ ]  0 .

From the above commutation relation, we have

pˆ Tˆ (a) p  Tˆ (a) pˆ p  pTˆ (a) p .

Thus Tˆ (a) p is the eigenket of p̂ associated with the eigenvalue p.

2 Infinitesimal translation operator

We now define the infinitesimal translation operator by

i
Tˆ (dx)  1̂  Gˆ dx ,


where Ĝ is called a generator of translation. The dimension of Ĝ is that of the linear

momentum.
The operator Tˆ (dx) satisfies the relations:

Tˆ  (dx)Tˆ (dx)  1̂ , (1)

Tˆ  (dx) xˆTˆ (dx)  xˆ  dx ,

or

xˆTˆ (dx)  Tˆ (dx) xˆ  dxTˆ (dx) , (2)

and

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 [Tˆ (dx), pˆ ]  0 , (3)

Using the relation (1), we get

i i
(1̂  Gˆ dx)  (1̂  Gˆ dx)  1̂ ,
 

or

i i i
(1̂  Gˆ  dx)(1̂  Gˆ dx)  1̂  (Gˆ   Gˆ )dx  O[(dx) 2 ]  1̂ ,
  

or

Gˆ   Gˆ .

The operator Ĝ is a Hermitian operator. Using the relation (2), we get

 i  i i
xˆ (1  Gˆ dx)  (1  Gˆ dx) xˆ  dx(1̂  Gˆ dx)  dx1̂  O(dx) 2 ,
  

or

i
 [ xˆ , Gˆ ]dx  dx1̂ ,


or

[ x , Gˆ ]  i1̂ .

Using the relation (3), we get

i
[1̂  Gˆ dx, pˆ ]  0 .


Then we have

[Gˆ , pˆ ]  0 .

From these two commutation relations, we conclude that

Gˆ  pˆ ,

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and

i
Tˆ (dx)  1̂  pˆ dx .


We see that the position operator and the momentum operator p̂ obeys the commutation
relation
 
[ x , pˆ ]  i1 .

which leads to the Heisenberg’s principle of uncertainty.

3 Momentum operator p̂ in the position basis.

Using the relation

i
Tˆ (x ) x  x  x , Tˆ (x )  1̂  pˆ x .


we get

Tˆ (x )   Tˆ (x )  dx ' x ' x '    dx ' x 'x x ' 

  dx ' x ' x 'x    dx ' x '  ( x 'x )

We apply the Taylor expansion:


 ( x 'x )   ( x ' )  x  ( x' ) .
x '

Substitution:

T (x )    dx ' x '  ( x 'x )

  dx ' x ' [ ( x ' )  x  ( x ' )]
x '

  dx ' x ' [ x '   x x'  ]
x '

   x  dx ' x ' x' 
x '

From the definition, we have

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  i
T (x )   (1̂  pˆ x )  .


Comparing these two equations, we obtain the relation

 
pˆ  
i  dx ' x '
x '
x'  ,

or

 
x pˆ  
i  dx ' x x '
x '
x' 

 
  dx '  ( x  x ' ) x' 
i x '
 
 x
i x

We obtain a very important formula

 
x pˆ   x .
i x

Note that

 pˆ    dx  x x pˆ 
 
  dx  x x
i x
*  
  dx x  x
i x

These results suggest that in position space the momentum operator takes the form

 
pˆ  .
i x

4. Position operator x̂ in the momentum basis.

6
 p xˆ    dx p x x xˆ 
  dxx p x x 
ipx
1 

2  dxxe  x 

 1  
ipx

 i   dxe  x  
p 2  


p 
 i dx p x x 


 i p
p

Then we have


p xˆ   i p .
p

Using this result, we get

 xˆ    dp  p p xˆ 

  dp  p i p
p

  dp p  i
*
p
p

These results suggest that in momentum space the position operator takes the form


xˆ  i .
p

5. The finite translation operator

What is the operator Tˆ (a) corresponding to a finite translation a? We find it by the
following procedure. We divide the interval into N parts of size dx = a/N. As N→∞, a/N
becomes infinitesimal.

i a
Tˆ ( dx )  1̂  pˆ ( ) .
 N

Since a translation by a equals N translations by a/N, we have

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 i a i
Tˆ ( a )  lim [1̂  pˆ ( )] N  exp(  pˆ a ) .
N   N 

Dx=a N
x
0 a

Here we use the formula

1 N 1 N
lim (1  )  e, lim (1  )  e 1 .
N  N N  N

N
ax ax
lim [(1  ) ax ]ax  lim (1  ) N  (e 1 ) ax  e  ax .
N  N N   N

In summary, we have

i
Tˆ (a)  exp( pˆ a) .


6. Discussion on the commutation relation

It is interesting to calculate

i i
pˆ a  pˆ a
Tˆ  (a) xˆTˆ (a )  e  xˆe 
,

by using the Baker-Hausdorff lemma:

x x2 x3
exp( Aˆ x) Bˆ exp( Aˆ x)  Bˆ  [ Aˆ , Bˆ ]  [ Aˆ ,[ Aˆ , Bˆ ]]  [ Aˆ ,[ Aˆ ,[ Aˆ , Bˆ ]]]  ...
1! 2! 3!

When x = 1, we have

1 1 1
exp( Aˆ ) Bˆ exp( Aˆ )  Bˆ  [ Aˆ , Bˆ ]  [ Aˆ ,[ Aˆ , Bˆ ]]  [ Aˆ ,[ Aˆ ,[ Aˆ , Bˆ ]]]  ...
1! 2! 3!

Then we have

i i
pˆ a  pˆ a i i i 
Tˆ  (a) xˆTˆ (a)  e  xˆe 
 xˆ  [ pˆ a, xˆ ]  xˆ  a[ pˆ , xˆ ]  xˆ  a  xˆ  a1̂ .
   i

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So we confirmed that the relation

Tˆ  (a) xˆTˆ (a)  xˆ  a1̂ ,

holds for any finite translation operator.

7. Invariance of Hamiltonian under the translation

Now we consider the condition for the invariance of Hamiltonian Ĥ under the
translation.

The average value of Ĥ in the new state  ' is equal to the average value of Ĥ in the
new state  .

 ' Hˆ  '   Hˆ  ,

or

Tˆ  (dx) Hˆ Tˆ (dx)  Hˆ , or Hˆ Tˆ (dx)  Tˆ (dx) Hˆ ,

or

i i
Hˆ (1̂  pˆ dx)  (1̂  pˆ dx) Hˆ .
 

Then we have

[ Hˆ , pˆ ]  0 .

8. ((Sakurai 1-28))
(a) Let x and px be the coordinate and linear momentum in one dimension. Evaluate
the classical Poisson bracket.

[ x, F ( px )]classical .

(b) Let x̂ and p̂ x be the corresponding quantum-mechanical operators this time.

Evaluate the commutator

ipˆ x a
[ xˆ , exp( )] .


9
(c) Using the result obtained in (b), prove that

ipˆ x a
exp( ) x' , xˆ x'  x' x'


is an eigenstate of the coordinate operator x, What is the corresponding

eigenvalue?

((Solution))
(a)

x F ( px ) x F ( px ) F ( px )
[ x, F ( px )]classical    .
x px px x px

(b)
We use the Gottfried’s result

ipˆ x a  ipˆ a ipˆ a

[ xˆ, exp( )]  i exp( x )  a exp( x ) .
 pˆ x  

(c)

ipˆ x a ipˆ a ipˆ a

xˆ exp( )  exp( x ) xˆ  a exp( x ) .
  

Then we have

ipˆ x a ipˆ a ipˆ a

xˆ exp( ) x '  exp( x ) xˆ x '  a exp( x ) x '
  
ˆ
ip a
 ( x ' a ) exp( x ) x '


ipˆ x a
The ket exp( ) x' is the eigenket of x̂ with an eigenvalue (x’-a).


ipˆ x a
exp( ) x '  x ' a .


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 ipˆ a
Therefore Tˆx ( a )  exp( x ) is a translation operator.


________________________________________________________________________
9. ((Sakurai 1-29))

(a) Gottfried (1966) states that

 
xˆi , G ( pˆ )  i G ( pˆ ) ,  pˆ i , F ( xˆ )  i F ( xˆ )
pˆ i xˆi

can be easily derived from the fundamental commutation relations for all
functions of F and G can be expressed as power series in their arguments. Verify
this statement.
(b)  
Evaluate xˆ 2 , pˆ 2 . Compare your result with the classical Poisson bracket
[ x 2 , p 2 ]classic .

((Solution))
(a)
(i)
 
p [ xˆi , G ( pˆ )]   [i G ( p)  G ( p)i ] p
pi pi
 
 i [G ( p) p  ]  iG ( p) p
pi pi
    
 i G ( p)  p   iG ( p) p   i G ( p ) p

 ip  p i p i

  
 i G ( p)  p 
 pi 

 p i G ( pˆ ) 
pˆ i

Thus we have the final result


[ xˆi , G ( pˆ )]  i G ( pˆ ) .
pˆ i

(ii)

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    
r [ pˆ i , F (rˆ )]   [ F (r )  F (r ) ]r
i xi i xi
   
 [ F (r ) r  ]  F (r ) r
i xi i xi
      
  F (r )  r   F (r ) r  ]  F (r ) r
i  xi  i xi i xi
  
  F (r )  r 
i  xi 
 
 r F (rˆ) 
i xˆi

or

 
[ pˆ i , F (rˆ )]  F (rˆ ) .
i xˆi

(b)

[ xˆ 2 , pˆ 2 ]  xˆ[ xˆ , pˆ 2 ]  [ xˆ , pˆ 2 ] xˆ
 2   2
 xˆi pˆ  i pˆ  xˆ
pˆ  pˆ 
 2i( xˆpˆ  pˆ xˆ )

The classical Poisson bracket is defined by

x 2 p 2 x 2 p 2
2 2
[ x , p ]classic  
x p p x
 4 xp
 2( xp  px )

________________________________________________________________________
10. ((Sakurai 1-30))
The translation operator for a finite (spatial) displacement is given by

ipˆ  l
Tˆ (l )  exp( ),


12
 where p̂ is the momentum operator.
(a) Evaluate

[ xˆ, Tˆ (l )] .

(b) Using (a) (or otherwise), demonstrate how the expectation value x changes
under translation.

((Solution))
(a)
The translation operator is defined by

ipˆ  l
Tˆ ( l )  exp(  ),


 ˆ ipˆ  l
[ xˆi , Tˆ (l )]  i T (l )  li exp( )  liTˆ (l )
pˆ i 

or

[rˆ, Tˆ (l )]  lTˆ (l ) .

(b)

 '  Tˆ (l )  ,

 ' rˆ  '   Tˆ  (l )rˆTˆ (l )  '

  Tˆ  (l )[Tˆ (l )rˆ  lTˆ (l )]  '
  rˆ  l  '

or

 ' rˆ  '   rˆ   l .

________________________________________________________________________
11. ((Sakurai 1-31))
Prove
13
 r  r  dr ' , p  p .

under infinitesimal translation.

((Solution))
We use the commutation relations

[rˆ, Tˆ (dr )]  drTˆ (dr )

and

[ pˆ , Tˆ (dr )]  0

We have

 Tˆ  (dr )rˆTˆ (dr )    Tˆ  (dr )[Tˆ (dr )rˆ  drTˆ (dr ) 

  rˆ  dr 

or

 ' rˆ  '   rˆ   dr

Similarly

 Tˆ  (dr ) pˆ Tˆ (dr )    Tˆ  (dr )Tˆ (dr ) pˆ    pˆ 

________________________________________________________________________
12. ((Sakurai 1-33))
(a) Prove the following:
(i)


p ' xˆ   i p'  .
p'

(ii)

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 
 xˆ    dp p '  i
*
p'  .
p'

(b) What is the physical significance of

ixˆp0
exp( ),


where x̂ is the position operator and p0 is some number with the dimension of
momentum? Justify your answer.

((Solution))
(a)
(i)

p ' xˆ    dx' p ' x' x' xˆ 

  dx' x' p ' x' x' 
ip ' x '
1 

2  dx' x' e 
x' 

1  
ip ' x '
 
 i   dx' e  x'  
p ' 2  


p' 
 i dx' p' x' x' 


 i p' 
p'

(ii)

 xˆ    dp'  p' p' xˆ 

  dp'  p' p' xˆ 

  dp'  p' i p' 
p'

(b)

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 ip0 xˆ  ip xˆ  ip xˆ 
pˆ exp( ) p '   pˆ , exp( 0 )  exp( 0 ) pˆ  p'
     
ip xˆ ip xˆ
 { p0 exp( 0 )  exp( 0 ) p'} p '
 
or

ip0 xˆ ip xˆ
pˆ exp( ) p'  ( p0  p' ) exp( 0 ) p ' .
 

ip0 xˆ
Therefore exp( ) p ' is the eigenket of p̂ with an eigenvalue of (p’ + p0 ).


________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
J.J. Sakurai and J. Napolitano, Modern Quantum Mechanics, second edition (Addison-
Wesley, New York, 2011).
John S. Townsend , A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics, second edition
(University Science Books, 2012).

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