Mathematics Atlas

How Proof Is Made
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Theorem

Hellmann-Feynman Theorem

Mathematical Physics

The Hellmann-Feynman Theorem states that once a quantum system's wavefunction has been found for a Hamiltonian depending on some parameter, the derivative of the system's energy with respect to that parameter equals the expectation value of the derivative of the Hamiltonian itself, so that forces and other parameter derivatives can be computed directly from the wavefunction already found rather than by separately differentiating the energy. Named for Hans Hellmann and Richard Feynman, it is a standard computational tool of quantum chemistry and quantum mechanics.

Facts
Statement
The derivative of the total energy with respect to a parameter equals the expectation value of the derivative of the Hamiltonian with respect to that same parameter. 1
Proof Year
1932 2
Proof Year
1933 2
Proof Year
1937 2
Proof Year
1939 2
Classification
Statement Form
Identity or Equation 1
Connections

Has Statement Form

Equation, Concepts
Identity, Concepts

In Branch

Source Hellmann-Feynman theorem (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Credited To

Also in Science Atlas: credited with this subject.

Also in Science Atlas: credited with this subject.

Sources
1. Hellmann-Feynman theorem (Wikipedia)
  • Introduction
    the Hellmann-Feynman theorem relates the derivative of the total energy with respect to a parameter to the expectation value of the derivative of the Hamiltonian with respect to that same parameter.
  • In Branch: Mathematical Physics, Lead
    In quantum mechanics, the Hellmann-Feynman theorem relates the derivative of the total energy with respect to a parameter
  • In Group: Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory, Lead section
    In quantum mechanics, the Hellmann-Feynman theorem relates the derivative
View the Source
2. Hellmann-Feynman theorem (Wikipedia)
Proven independently by Paul Guttinger (1932)View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.