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I've written the following code for simple quantum mechanics operators on spin states:

enter image description here

It seems to work, but the output could be better - how do I let Mathematics know that $0**\ 0==0$, and can I let it compress the up/down ket to have only the 2 arrows, not the "$**$" in between?

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  • $\begingroup$ You can use Bra, Ket and you can Unprotect NonCommutativeMultiply. $\endgroup$
    – evanb
    May 8, 2015 at 23:13
  • $\begingroup$ Do you have details about Bra and Ket? I can't seem to find much documentation about these two in Mathematica's help itself... $\endgroup$
    – Frank
    May 9, 2015 at 3:41
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately, no. As far as I know they're Heads with no meaning (unless you give them meaning!) that simply render very nicely. $\endgroup$
    – evanb
    May 10, 2015 at 7:32

1 Answer 1

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Unprotecting and giving meaning to ** (NonCommuntativeMultiply) will do the trick:

Unprotect[NonCommutativeMultiply]
NonCommutativeMultiply[H___, 0, T___] := 0
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  • $\begingroup$ Very nice! Didn't know that... thanks for the tip! $\endgroup$
    – Frank
    May 9, 2015 at 3:24

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