We propose a model of time evolution of quantum objects which unites the unitary evolution and the measurement procedures. The model allows to treat the time on equal footing with other dynamical variables.
We discuss the problem of time in quantum mechanics. In the traditional formulation time enters the model as a parameter, not an observable, which follows from the famous Pauli theorem. It is now known, that Pauli's assumptions were too strong and that by removing some of them time can be represented as a quantum observable. In this case, instead of the unitary time evolution, other operators which map the space of initial states into the space of final states at each step of the evolution can be used. This allows to treat time as a quantum observable in a consistent way. We present the projection evolution model and show how the traditional Schroedinger evolution can be obtained from it. We propose the form of the time operator which satisfies the energy-time uncertainty relation. As an example, we discuss the temporal version of the double-slit experiment.
We discuss the problem of time in quantum mechanics. In the traditional formulation time enters the model as a parameter, not an observable, which follows from the famous Pauli theorem. It is now known, that Pauli's assumptions were too strong and that by removing some of them time can be represented as a quantum observable. In this case, instead of the unitary time evolution, other operators which map the space of initial states into the space of final states at each step of the evolution can be used. This allows to treat time as a quantum observable in a consistent way.
We present the projection evolution model and show how the traditional Schroedinger evolution can be obtained from it. We propose the form of the time operator which satisfies the energy-time uncertainty relation. As an example, we discuss the temporal version of the double-slit experiment.
The problem of quantum time and evolution of quantum systems, where time is not a parameter, is considered. In our model, following some earlier works, time is represented by a quantum operator. In this paper, similarly to the position operators in the Schrödinger representation of quantum mechanics, this operator is a multiplication-type operator. It can be also represented by an appropriate positive operator-valued measure (POVM) which together with the 3D position operators/measures provide a quantum observable giving a position in the quantum spacetime. The quantum evolution itself is a stochastic process based on Lüder’s projection postulate. In fact, it is a generalization of the unitary evolution. This allows to treat time and generally the spacetime position as a quantum observable, in a consistent and observer-independent way.
A unifying framework is presented which treats time-dependent problems in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics on equal footing with stationary ones. This is accomplished by elevating time t to the role of a dynamical variable and considering evolution in an extended space with respect to a progress variable τ. Among the new objects in the extended space are the time operator as well as operators, such as energy, that are not diagonal in time. The latter bear, e.g., on the question of ‘‘quantum chaos.’’ Only τ-stationary states in the extended space are necessary to recover all of the Schrödinger time evolution. In particular, time-dependent constants of the motion (and these include time-evolved density matrices) elevate to stationary constants of the τ motion. Time-dependent problems, which may also involve time-dependent Hamiltonians, can then be solved by stationary-state methods. Special attention is given to applications based on time-dependent constants of the motion and to maximum-entropy states subject to time-dependent constraints. Two examples (rank-one perturbation, damped harmonic oscillator) illustrate some of these ideas. Scattering theory in the extended space is discussed in two appendices. It furnishes a picture of Hamiltonian τ evolution which promises to embrace also irreversible dynamics.