Path integral in Quantum Mechanics

Sarthak Duarya
a
International Centre for Theoretical Sciences,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,Shivakote,
Bengaluru 560089, India.

E-mail: sarthak.duary@icts.res.in
Contents

1 Path integral in quantum mechanics 1

1 Path integral in quantum mechanics

Consider the Hamiltonian-

p̂2
Ĥ = + V (q̂). (1.1)
2m
2p
Classical Hamiltonian is 2m + V (q).
1 2
Classical Lagrangian is 2 mq̇ − V (q).
Action Principle
R
Equation of motion follow from extremizing the action S = dtL.
Imagine,tinitial = t0 , tfinal = t00 . qinitial = q 0 , qfinal = q 00 . Varying this path till S is extremised
which means that for classical path δS = 0 to first order for any variation of the path.
Define,
q̂(t) = eiĤt q̂(0)e−iĤt = eiĤt q̂e−iĤt
p̂(t) = eiĤt p̂(0)e−iĤt = eiĤt p̂e−iĤt .
Now,
q̂ |qi = q |qi , hq|pi0 = eiqp ,
p̂ |pi0 = p |pi0 ,0 hp|qi = e−iqp .
Define,
|q, ti ≡ eiĤt |qi .
Now,

q̂(t) |q, ti = eiĤt q̂e−iĤt eiĤt |qi

= eiĤt q̂
e−i
Ĥt eiĤt |qi
 

= eiĤt q̂ |qi
= q |q, ti .

Define, for t00 > t0

K(q 0 , t0 ; q 00 , t00 ) ≡ q 00 , t00 q 0 , t0

 

00 0  
= q 00 e−iĤ(t −t ) q 0 .



–1–
Define
t00 − t0
∆= .
N
where N is large integer.

K(q 0 , t0 ; q 00 , t00 ) = q 00 e−iN ∆Ĥ q 0

  

= q 00 |e−i∆Ĥ e−i∆{zĤ
· · · e−i∆Ĥ}q 0

  

N-factors
R
Inserting I = dqi |qi i hqi |, where i = N − 1, N − 2, · · · 1.
Therefore,

K(q 0 , t0 ; q 00 , t00 ) = q 00 e−iN ∆Ĥ q 0

  

= q 00 |e−i∆Ĥ e−i∆{zĤ
· · · e−i∆Ĥ}q 0

  

N-factors
Z NY−1
= dq1 . . . dqN −1 hqi+1 |e−i∆Ĥ |qi i
i=0

where qN ≡ q 00 , q0 ≡ q 0 .

Z N
Y −1
0 0 00 00
K(q , t ; q , t ) = dq1 . . . dqN −1 hqi+1 |e−i∆Ĥ |qi i . (1.2)
i=0

Now we want to calculate hqi+1 |e−i∆Ĥ |qi i.

 
p̂ 2
−i∆ V (q̂)+ 2m
hqi+1 |e−i∆Ĥ |qi i = hqi+1 |e |qi i (1.3)

–2–
 1
Using, BCH lemma eA eB = eA+B+ 2 [A,B]+··· ,we get
 
p̂ 2
−i∆ V (q̂)+ 2m p̂2 2 ×(··· )
hqi+1 |e |qi i = hqi+1 |e−i∆V (q̂) e−i∆ 2m e∆ |qi i
p̂2
= hqi+1 |e−i∆V (q̂) e−i∆ 2m |qi i
p̂2
= e−i∆V (qi+1 ) hqi+1 |e−i∆ 2m |qi i
Z
Inserting I = dp |pi0 0 hp|
Z
p2
= e−i∆V (qi+1 ) dpe−i∆ 2m hqi+1 |pi0 0 hp|qi i
| {z } | {z }
=eipqi+1 =e−ipqi
Z
p2
= e−i∆V (qi+1 ) dpe−i∆ 2m eip(qi+1 −qi )

Completing the squares

h i2
i∆ m im
Z
− p− (qi+1 −qi ) + 2∆ (qi+1 −qi )2
= e−i∆V (qi+1 ) dpe 2m ∆

Performing gaussian integral

im 2
= Ae−i∆V (qi+1 )+ 2∆ (qi+1 −qi )

From eq.(1.2) we get,

Z N −1
Y im 2
0 0 00 00
K(q , t ; q , t ) = dq1 . . . dqN −1 Ae−i∆V (qi+1 )+ 2∆ (qi+1 −qi )
i=0
N −1 N −1
" #
∆m X  qi+1 − qi 2
Z X
N
= dq1 . . . dqN −1 A exp − i∆ V (qi+1 ) + i
2 ∆
i=0 i=0
Z
= dq1 . . . dqN −1 AN eiS

R R 1 2 
Here, S = Ldt = 2 mq̇ − V (q) dt.
Let’s check this.
Z t00 N
X −1
− V (q)dt = −∆ V (qi+1 ).
t0 i=0

Z t00 N −1
1 2 1 X 2
mq̇ dt = m∆ q̇|t0 +i∆
t0 2 2
i=0
N −1 h
1 X qi+1 − qi i2
= m∆ .
2 ∆
i=0

–3–
Therefore, h i2
PN −1 PN −1 qi+1 −qi
−i∆ V (qi+1 )+i 2i m∆
eiS = e
i=0 i=0 ∆
.
Formally,
Z
00 00
0 0 00 00
K(q , t ; q , t ) = N
|{z} [Dq]qq0 ,t,t0 eiS . (1.4)
Normalization constant
| {z }
Integral over paths

Integral over Paths: First we break a path into many continuous segments. Path is a
collection of q− values at regular intervals. We represent S as a sum which is function of the
q−values at those segments. Once we discretize S, it depends on the q-values at these points
q 0 , q1 , q2 , · · · , q 00 . Integrate over path precisely means integrate over each of the qi ’s. As we
vary a path each of these qi ’s change.

–4–