0

In the position representation the momentum operator takes the form of the gradient, $-i\hbar \nabla$.

It is understood that its components denote $p_{x}, p_{y}, p_{z}$ respectively; but, when transforming the gradient to spherical coordinates, what do the individual radial, polar and azimuthal components represent?

Cosmas Zachos
  • 62,595
IdentityOne
  • 1
  • 1
    Possible duplicates: https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/9349/2451 , https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/224027/2451 and links therein. – Qmechanic Mar 17 '23 at 18:15
  • Useful background. – Cosmas Zachos Mar 17 '23 at 20:18
  • Can you sharpen your question? Which aspect of the conversion are you seeking to enlighten? Are you aware of the conversion formulas? – Cosmas Zachos Mar 17 '23 at 20:24
  • So for example looking at the gradient in spherical coordinates, the radial component of the vector is not thought of as the expected classical radial momentum. Nevertheless this radial component appears in the momentum operator in spherical coordinates. So my question is what does it represent? – IdentityOne Mar 18 '23 at 10:08
  • Something bothering you about the linked answers? Are you fully comfortable with the appendix of the linked paper? – Cosmas Zachos Mar 18 '23 at 10:53

0 Answers0