Continuous Dimensional Hilbert Space

Overview


An continuous dimensional hilbert space is a space where the basis of the space is isomorphic to the real numbers. That is, there is a function
{% \phi : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow E %}
where {% E %} is a set of basis elements of the space.

Using Dirac Notation, a basis element can be written as {% | x \rangle %}. That is,
{% \phi(x) = |x \rangle %}
Then, an element of the Hilbert space can be written as an integral.
{% |f \rangle = \int_{- \infty}^{\infty} dx f(x) |x \rangle %}

Inner Product


The inner product of two basis elements, is then the Dirac Delta Function.
{% \langle x' | x'' \rangle = \delta(x' - x'') %}
{% \langle x' | f \rangle = \int_{- \infty}^{\infty} dx f(x)\langle x' | x \rangle = \int_{- \infty}^{\infty} dx f(x) \delta(x - x') = f(x') %}