Matrix representation of the time operator

DOI10.1063/1.4729286zbMATH Open1276.81048arXiv1201.3838OpenAlexW3106064911MaRDI QIDQ2865443FDOQ2865443

Authors: Carl M. Bender, M. Gianfreda 

Publication date: 29 November 2013

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

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.

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

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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)

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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
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Time operators of harmonic oscillators and their representations

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