Eigenstate

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An eigenstate is a state that has a definite value for a particular observable or transformation. When the corresponding operator acts on the state, the result is the same state multiplied by a scalar.

That scalar is the eigenvalue associated with the eigenstate. In quantum mechanics, eigenstates of observables such as energy, momentum, or angular momentum correspond to states in which a measurement has a definite possible result.

A general quantum state can often be expressed as a superposition of eigenstates. Measurement probabilities are determined by the coefficients of this expansion.

Eigenstates are fundamental in linear algebra, differential equations, vibration analysis, quantum mechanics, and stability theory because they separate complicated behaviour into simpler independent modes.

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• Source / publisher: Wikipedia
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Wikipedia
• URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eigenstate