The exchange operator is a quantum mechanical operator used in the field of quantum chemistry. Specifically, it is a term found in the Fock operator. It is defined as:
where is the one-electron exchange operator,
are the one-electron wavefunction being acted upon by the Exchange operator as functions of the positions of electron 1 and electron 2,
are the one-electron wavefunction of the j-th electron as functions of the positions of electron 1 and electron 2,
is the distance between electrons 1 and 2.
In quantum physics the exchange operator can be thought of as a Hermitian operator which swaps the labels on any two identical particles.
Famous quotes containing the word exchange:
“Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into war, use chemical sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves, engage in child labor, exchange information ceaselessly. They do everything but watch television.”
—Lewis Thomas (b. 1913)