Matrix representation of the time operator

DOI10.1063/1.4729286MaRDI QIDQ2865443zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Carl M. Bender, M. Gianfreda

Publication date 29 November 2013

Published in Journal of Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1201.3838

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Closed and approximate solutions to the Schrödinger, Dirac, Klein-Gordon and other equations of quantum mechanics (81Q05)

Abstract: In quantum mechanics the time operator $Theta$ satisfies the commutation relation $[Theta,H]=i$, and thus it may be thought of as being canonically conjugate to the Hamiltonian $H$. The time operator associated with a given Hamiltonian $H$ is not unique because one can replace $Theta$ by $Theta+Thet{a}_{mhom}$, where $Thet{a}_{mhom}$ satisfies the homogeneous condition $[Thet{a}_{mhom},H]=0$. To study this nonuniqueness the matrix elements of $Theta$ for the harmonic-oscillator Hamiltonian are calculated in the eigenstate basis. This calculation requires the summation of divergent series, and the summation is accomplished by using zeta-summation techniques. It is shown that by including appropriate homogeneous contributions, the matrix elements of $Theta$ simplify dramatically. However, it is still not clear whether there is an optimally simple representation of the time operator.

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Cited in

(6)

• The matrix representation of the delta shape operator on time scales
• Nonautonomous Hamiltonian quantum systems, operator equations, and representations of the Bender-Dunne Weyl-ordered basis under time-dependent canonical transformations
• Representation of a complex Green function on a real basis. I: General theory
• The Bender-Dunne basis operators as Hilbert space operators
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 5234028 (Why is no real title available?)
• Time operators of harmonic oscillators and their representations

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