On the realization of symmetries in quantum mechanics

DOI10.1007/S00591-008-0035-5zbMATH Open1162.81022arXiv0712.0997OpenAlexW3103496604MaRDI QIDQ1017992FDOQ1017992

Kai Johannes Keller, Andrés F. Reyes-Lega, Nikolaos A. Papadopoulos

Publication date: 13 May 2009

Published in: Mathematische Semesterberichte (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to give a simple, geometric proof of Wigner's theorem on the realization of symmetries in quantum mechanics that clarifies its relation to projective geometry. Although several proofs exist already, it seems that the relevance of Wigner's theorem is not fully appreciated in general. It is Wigner's theorem which allows the use of linear realizations of symmetries and therefore guarantees that, in the end, quantum theory stays a linear theory. In the present paper, we take a strictly geometrical point of view in order to prove this theorem. It becomes apparent that Wigner's theorem is nothing else but a corollary of the fundamental theorem of projective geometry. In this sense, the proof presented here is simple, transparent and therefore accessible even to elementary treatments in quantum mechanics.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.0997

Recommendations

• Two elementary proofs of the Wigner theorem on symmetry in quantum mechanics
• On Wigner's theorem
• Comment on: ``Two elementary proofs of the Wigner theorem on symmetry in quantum mechanics
• Linear algebraic proof of Wigner theorem and its consequences
• An alternative proof of Wigner theorem on quantum transformations based on elementary complex analysis

zbMATH Keywords

projective geometryWigner theorem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of Lie groups to the sciences; explicit representations (22E70) General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Finite-dimensional groups and algebras motivated by physics and their representations (81R05) Linear algebraic groups over local fields and their integers (20G25)

Cites Work

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Symmetry Groups in Quantum Mechanics and the Theorem of Wigner on the Symmetry Transformations
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Note on Wigner's Theorem on Symmetry Operations
• A unification of chirality measures
• Wigner's theorem on symmetries in indefinite metric spaces
• The Wigner unitarity-antiunitarity theorem
• Symmetry in Quantum Theory
• Note on symmetry operations in quantum mechanics

Cited In (8)

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Highly symmetric POVMs and their informational power
• A note on families of spin observables and a generalization of Wigner's theorem in \(\mathbb{C}^2\)
• Applications of the Fundamental Theorems of Projective and Affine Geometry in Physics
• (No) Wigner Theorem for C*-algebras
• Two elementary proofs of the Wigner theorem on symmetry in quantum mechanics
• On self-adjoint extensions and symmetries in quantum mechanics
• Symmetry representations in the rigged Hilbert space formulation of quantum mechanics

This page was built for publication: On the realization of symmetries in quantum mechanics

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1017992)