In Quantum Mechanics, why is it that a self-adjoint operator is linked to an observable? What makes it measureable? And why isn't a non-Hermitian operator linked to an observable?
Also, what type of observables are we talking about here? Particles?
Quantum Mechanics – Why Hermitian Operators are Linked to Observables
observablesoperatorsquantum mechanics
Best Answer
The is a theorem that says Hermitian operator are associated to real eigenvalues.
Since eigenvalues correspond with our measure values and they are real, this means that it makes sense to have hermitian operators as observables.
Observables are magnitudes we can measure: position, momentum, angular momentum, charge, etc.