The Newton equations of motion are invariant under the states can be justified like:
transformation t −→ −t: if x(t) is a solution of the The state |a0 i represented in the base {|a0 i} maps to the
equation column vector
mẍ = −∇V (x) 0
0
then also x(−t) is a solution. ..
At the moment t = 0 let there be a particle at the point .
x(t = 0) with the momentum p(t = 0). Then a particle at 0
0
|a i 7→
1 ,
the same point but with the momentum −p(t = 0)
follows the trajectory x(−t). 0
In the quantum mechanical Schrödinger equation .
..
∂ψ
h̄2 2
0
ih̄ = − ∇ + V ψ, which is unaffected by the complex conjugation.
∂t 2m
Note The effect of the operator K depends thus on the
due to the first derivative with respect to the time, choice of the basis states.
ψ(x, −t) is not a solution eventhough ψ(x, t) were, but If U is a unitary operator then the operator θ = U K is
ψ ∗ (x, −t) is. In quantum mechanics the time reversal has antiunitary.
obviously something to do with the complex conjugation. Proof: Firstly
Let us consider the symmetry operation
θ(c1 |αi + c2 |βi) = U K(c1 |αi + c2 |βi)
|αi −→ |α̃i, |βi −→ |β̃i. = (c∗1 U K|αi + c∗2 U K|βi)
We require that the absolute value of the scalar product = (c∗1 θ|αi + c∗2 θ|βi),
is invariant under that operation:
so θ is antiliniear. Secondly, expanding the states |αi and
|hβ̃|α̃i| = |hβ|αi|. |βi in a complete basis {|a0 i} we get
θ
X
There are two possibilities to satisfy this condition: |αi −→ |α̃i = ha0 |αi∗ U K|a0 i
a0
1. hβ̃|α̃i = hβ|αi, so the corresponding symmetry X
operator is unitary, that is = ha |αi∗ U |a0 i
0
a0
†
X
hβ|αi −→ hβ|U U |αi = hβ|αi. = hα|a0 iU |a0 i
a0
The symmetries treated earlier have obeyed this
condition. and
X X
2. hβ̃|α̃i = hβ|αi∗ = hα|βi, so the symmetry operator |β̃i = ha0 |βi∗ U |a0 i ↔ hβ̃| = ha0 |βiha0 |U † .
cannot be unitary. a0 a0
ΘxΘ−1 = x
Note We have not defined the Hermitean conjugate of
the antiunitary operator θ nor have we defined the Θ|x0 i = |x0 i
meaning of the expression hβ|θ. That being, we let the
when we impose the physically sensible condition
time reversal operator Θ to operate always on the right
and with the matrix element hβ|Θ|αi we mean the hα|x|αi = hα̃|x|α̃i.
expression (hβ|) · (Θ|αi).
Let ⊗ be an arbitrary linear operator. We define We consider the basic commutation relations
so that Now
hβ|⊗ = hγ| Θ[xi , pj ]Θ−1 Θ|i = Θih̄δij |i,
from which, using the antilinearity and the time reversal HΘ|ni = ΘH|ni = En Θ|ni,
properties of the operators x and p we get
so the states |ni and Θ|ni have the same energy. Because
[xi , (−pj )]Θ|i = −ih̄δij Θ|i. the state |ni was supposed to be nondegenerate they
must represent the same state. The wave function of the
We see thus that the commutation rule state |ni is hx0 |ni and the one of the state Θ|ni
correspondingly hx0 |ni∗ . These must be same (or more
[xi , pj ]|i = ih̄δij |i
accurately, they can differ only by a phase factor which
remains invariant under the time reversal. does not depend on the coordinate x0 ), i.e.
Correspondingly, the requirement of the invariance of the
hx0 |ni = hx0 |ni∗
commutation rule
ΘJ Θ−1 = −J .
Z
Θ|αi = Θ dx0 hx0 |αi|x0 i
This agrees with transformation properties of the orbital Z
angular momentum x × p. = dx0 hx0 |αi∗ |x0 i = K|αi,
[Θ, H] = 0.
H|ni = En |ni
HΘ|ni = En Θ|ni.
If we now had
Θ|ni = eiδ |ni,
then, reapplying the time reversal we would obtain
or
Θ2 = 1.
This is, however, impossible if the system j is half integer,
because then Θ2 = −1. In systems of this kind |ni and
Θ|ni are degenerate.
Example Electon in electromagnetic field
If a particle is influenced by an external static electric
field
V (x) = eφ(x),
then clearly the Hamiltonian
p2
H= + V (x)
2m
is invariant under the time reversal:
[Θ, H] = 0.
B =∇×A