Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: All covariant time operators with normalized probability distribution are derived for Hamiltonians with continuous eigenvalues. Symmetry criteria are invoked to arrive at a unique expression for a given Hamiltonian. As an application, a well-known result for the arrival time distribution of a free particle is generalized and extended. Interestingly, the resulting arrival time distribution operator is connected to a particular, positive, quantization of the classical current. For particles in a potential, we also introduce and study the notion of conditional arrival-time distribution.
Authors: G C Hegerfeldt, J G Muga
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1963497792