(a) A group G of transformations acts on a quantum system. Briefly explain why the Born rule implies that these transformations may be represented by operators U(g):H→H obeying
U(g)†U(g)U(g1)U(g2)=1H=eiϕ(g1,g2)U(g1⋅g2)
for all g1,g2∈G, where ϕ(g1,g2)∈R.
What additional property does U(g) have when G is a group of symmetries of the Hamiltonian? Show that symmetries correspond to conserved quantities.
(b) The Coulomb Hamiltonian describing the gross structure of the hydrogen atom is invariant under time reversal, t↦−t. Suppose we try to represent time reversal by a unitary operator T obeying U(t)T=TU(−t), where U(t) is the time-evolution operator. Show that this would imply that hydrogen has no stable ground state.
An operator A:H→H is antilinear if
A(a∣α⟩+b∣β⟩)=aˉA∣α⟩+bˉA∣β⟩
for all ∣α⟩,∣β⟩∈H and all a,b∈C, and antiunitary if, in addition,
⟨β′∣α′⟩=⟨β∣α⟩,
where ∣α′⟩=A∣α⟩ and ∣β′⟩=A∣β⟩. Show that if time reversal is instead represented by an antiunitary operator then the above instability of hydrogen is avoided.