SUMMARY
The discussion centers on the discrepancy between Sakurai's "Modern Quantum Mechanics" and Bruus and Flensberg's "Many-body Quantum Theory in Condensed Matter Physics" regarding time reversal symmetry in quantum mechanics. Sakurai states that if ##\psi(x,t)## is a solution of the Schrödinger equation, then ##\psi^*(x,-t)## is always a solution. In contrast, Bruus and Flensberg specify that this holds only under the condition of time reversal symmetry, where ##H=H^*##. The conclusion drawn is that the Hamiltonian in Sakurai's context, specifically ##H=\frac{P^2}{2m}+V(x)##, inherently satisfies the Hermitian condition, thus fulfilling the requirement for time reversal symmetry.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of the Schrödinger equation
- Knowledge of time reversal symmetry in quantum mechanics
- Familiarity with Hermitian operators
- Basic concepts of quantum mechanics as presented in Sakurai's texts
NEXT STEPS
- Study the implications of time reversal symmetry in quantum mechanics
- Examine the properties of Hermitian operators in quantum systems
- Review section 4.4 of Sakurai's "Modern Quantum Mechanics" for detailed context
- Analyze section 7.1.4 of Bruus and Flensberg's "Many-body Quantum Theory in Condensed Matter Physics" for restrictions on time reversal conditions
USEFUL FOR
Quantum physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and researchers exploring time reversal symmetry and its implications in quantum systems will benefit from this discussion.