Lecture 21:

The Parity Operator

Phy851 Fall 2009

Parity inversion
Symmetry under parity inversion is
known as mirror symmetry

x x

P : y a y
z z

Parity inversion cannot

be generated by
rotations

Formally, we say that f(x) is symmetric

under parity inversion if f(-x) = f(x)
We would say that f(x) is antisymmetric
under parity inversion if f(-x)=-f(x)
The universe is not symmetric under
parity inversion (beta decay)
Unless there is mirror matter (and mirror
photons)
Would interact only weakly with matter
via gravity

Parity Operator
Let us define the parity operator via:

x = x
Parity operator is Hermitian:

x x = x x = ( x + x)

x x = x x = ( x + x)

=
Parity operator is its own inverse

x = x = x
2 = 1
Thus it must be Unitary as well

=
= 1

= 1

Properties of the Parity operator

Parity acting to the left:

x = ( x

)=

= x

x= x
What is the action of the parity operator on a
generic quantum state?
Let:

=
x = x
x = x

( x) = ( x)
( x) = ( x)

x = x

Under parity inversion, we would say:

( x) = ( x)
Must be true for any physical
transformation!

Eigenstates of Parity Operator

What are the eigenstates of parity?
What states have well-defined parity?
Answer: even/odd states

Proof:
Let:

It follows that:
2

But 2=1, which gives:

=2
2 =1

= 1
= +1
x+ = x +

= 1
x = x

x + = x +

x = x

Any Even function!

Any Odd function!

Parity acting on Momentum states

p = dx x x p
= dx x x p
= dx x x p
i
px
1
x p =
e h = x p
2h

p = dx x x p

p = p

Commutator of X with
First we can compute X :

x X = x X
= x x
= x x
= x X

X = X
2

X = X
X = X
X X = 2 X
So and X do not commute

This is the
important result
for calculations

Commutator of X with
Next we can compute [x2,]:

x X 2 = x X 2
= x2 x
= x2 x
= x X2
2

X = X
2

X = X
2

X = X
X 2 X 2 = 0
So and X2 do commute!

This is the
important result
for calculations

Commutator with Hamiltonian

Same results must apply for P and P2, as the
relation between and P is the same as
between and X.
Thus

P2
,
=0
2M

If commutes with X2, then commutes

with any even function of X

[,V (X )]= 0
2

even

Let

Then

P2
H=
+ Veven ( X )
2M

[, H ]= 0

This means that simultaneous eigenstates of

H and P exist

Consequences for a free particle

The Hamiltonian of a free particle is:

P2
H=
2M
Energy eigenstates are doublydegenerate:

h 2k 2
H k =
2M

h 2k 2
H k =
2M

E ,1 := k

k=

E ,2 := k

2 ME
h

k =

2 ME
h

Note that plane waves, |k, are

eigenstates of momentum and energy,
but NOT parity Note that P and do not commute, so

simultaneous eigenstates of momentum

and parity cannot exist

But [H,]=0, so eigenstates of energy

and parity must exist

1
( E ,1 + E ,2
E ,+ :=
2
1
( E ,1 E ,2
E , :=
2

E , + ( x) =

1
cos

2 ME
h

E , + ( x) =

i
sin

2 ME
h

Consequences for the SHO

For the SHO we have:

P2 1
H=
+ M 2 X 2
2M 2
Therefore [H,]=0, so simultaneous
eigenstates of Energy and Parity must
exist
The energy levels are not-degenerate, so
there is no freedom to mix and match
states
Thus the only possibility is that each
energy level must have definite parity
The Hermite Polynomials have definite
parity: Hn(-x)=(-1)n Hn(x)
So ground-state (n=0) is even

Thus we have:

First excited state (n=1) is odd

n

n = ( 1) n

(n=2) is even
Etc.