Is there any difference between expectation value and average value in quantum mechanics? If there is no difference then why give them different names?
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It is the same as for statistics and probability theory. Average applies to data. Expectation applies to predictions.
Charles Francis
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I agree with @CharlesFrancis answer, but it is worth adding more terminology: expectation value is mathematical average/mean, as opposed to the ensemble average or sample average. See here for more.
Remark: the obligatory reference on statistics is this crash course on statistics, from the Review of Particle Physics.
Roger V.
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