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Diagonalizing a 2 x 2
Hermitian Matrix
Phys242 Quantum Mechanics II

Prepared by:
Kenneth M. Senados
November 28, 2014

Outline
1. Changing the eigenvalue origin
2. Calculation of the eigenvalues
and eigenvectors
a. Angles and
b. Eigenvalues of K
c. Eigenvalues of H
d. Normalized eigenvectors of H

Changing the eigenvalue

origin
Consider the Hermitian matrix:
(1)
H11 and H22 are real. Moreover:
H12 = H*21

(2)

The matrix (H) therefore represents, in

an orthonormal basis, {|1>, |2>}, a
certain Hermitian operator H.

Using the half-sum and half-difference

of the diagonal elements H11 and H22,

(3)

It follows that the operator H can be

decomposed into:
(4)
where 1 is the identity operator
K is the Hermitian operator
represented in the {|1>, |2>} basis
by the matrix:
(5)

From (4) we see that H and K have the

same eigenvectors.
Let |> be these eigenvectors, and E
and , the corresponding eigenvalues
for H and K:
(6)
(7)
From(4) we immediately conclude that:
(8)
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Calculation of the eigenvalues and

eigenvectors
A. Angles and
Let and be the angles defined in
terms of the matrix elements Hij by:
(9)
(10)
is the argument of the complex
number H21
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According to (2) and, we have |H12|=|

H21| and:
(11)
If we use (9), (10), and (11) the matrix
K becomes

(12)

B. Eigenvalues of K
The characteristic equation of the
matrix (12)
(13)
Directly yields the eigenvalues + and
- of (K):
(14-a)
(14-b)
We see that they are indeed real.

If we want to express 1/cos in terms

of Hij, all we need to do is use (9) and
notice that cos and tan have the
same sign since 0 :
From (9) and using

;;

That is
And evaluating
(15)

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C. Eigenvalues of H
Using (8), (14) and (15),

(8)
(14)

(15)
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C. Eigenvalues of H
Using (8), (14) and (15), we
immediately obtain:
(16-a)

(16-b)
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D. Normalized eigenvectos of H
Let a and b be the components of |+>
on |1> and |2>. According to (7), (12)
and (14-a)

(7)

(12)
(7)
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D. Normalized eigenvectos of H
Let a and b be the components of |+>
on |1> and |2>. According to (7), (12)
and (14-a), they must satisfy:
(19)
Which yields:
(20)
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that is:
(21)
The normalized eigenvector |+> can
therfore be written:
(22)
An analogous calculation would yield:
(23)
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END

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