what is Fock space?
 

the textbooks say that a fock space is the multiparticle extension of a hilbert space. OK, i guess that makes sense. but what is the mathematical difference between a fock space and a hilbert space?

i mean, a hilbert space, by definition is a set of kets that have an inner product and form a vector space and is closed. so how is a fock space different from that?

H represents the space of states of one particle of mass m and spin s; in short, H is then called the "one-particle Hilbert space". The corresponding *Fock space F(H)* is then the state space of all many identical particle configurations of the one particle described by H.

Heres some math:

[url]http://www.phys.port.ac.uk/research/quantum/cushing/node6.html[/url]

ahh... i think i see. there is a separate hilbert space for all the kets with the same excitation number, and the fock space is the direct product of all those hilbert spaces.

huh. that wasn t so hard. thanks

by the way, what do you mean, posting a link to a bohmian mechanics page? are you some kind of hippy? (-:

lethe

[i]are you some kind of hippy?[/i]

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect."

[i]Mark Twain[/i]

"I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

[i]Robert Frost[/i]

Q, are you really an adherent to bohmian mechanics? i would not classify myself as one, but i find it a very interesting subject.

i was just kidding with the hippy remark. an eloquent retort though.

Lethe

Not really, but like you, I find it interesting and sometimes effective.