On matrix elements of phase-angular momentum commutator in Hilbert space of arbitrary dimensions

Abstract

We discuss correspondence between the predictions of quantum theories for rotation angle formulated in infinite and finite dimensional Hilbert spaces, taking as example, the calculation of matrix elements of phase-angular momentum commutator. A new derivation of the matrix elements is presented in infinite space, making use of a unitary transformation that maps from the state space of periodic functions to non-periodic functions, over which the spectrum of angular momentum operator is in general, fractional. The approach can be applied to finite dimensional Hilbert space also, for which identical matrix elements are obtained.