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Kramers degeneracy without eigenvectors

Mathematical Physics 2013-06-28 v1 math.MP Quantum Physics

Abstract

Wigner gave a well-known proof of Kramers degeneracy, for time reversal invariant systems containing an odd number of half-integer spin particles. But Wigner's proof relies on the assumption that the Hamiltonian has an eigenvector, and thus does not apply to many quantum systems of physical interest. This note illustrates an algebraic way to talk about Kramers degeneracy that does not appeal to eigenvectors, and provides a derivation of Kramers degeneracy in this more general context.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1208.3889,
  title  = {Kramers degeneracy without eigenvectors},
  author = {Bryan W. Roberts},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1208.3889},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

5 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-21T21:52:44.975Z