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The Problem of Irreversible Change in Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Physics 2022-06-01 v3 Mathematical Physics math.MP History and Philosophy of Physics

Abstract

I prove that, if a change happens in a closed quantum system so that its state is perfectly distinguishable from all past or future states, the Hamiltonian is H^=i τ\widehat{H}=-i\hbar\frac{\partial\ }{\partial\tau}. A time operator τ^\widehat{\tau} can be defined as its canonical conjugate. This Hamiltonian is usually rejected because it has no ground state, but I show that even a weaker form of irreversibility is inconsistent with a ground state. What is the right choice, that the world's Hamiltonian is i τ-i\hbar\frac{\partial\ }{\partial\tau}, or that changes are reversible?

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2204.02270,
  title  = {The Problem of Irreversible Change in Quantum Mechanics},
  author = {Ovidiu Cristinel Stoica},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2204.02270},
  year   = {2022}
}

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