Do the Equations of Motion Determine the Quantum Mechanical Commutation Relations?

Eugene P. Wigner
Phys. Rev. 77, 711 – Published 1 March 1950
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Abstract

The commutator of the Hamiltonian with the operator corresponding to any physical quantity gives the operator which corresponds to the time derivative of that quantity. One can ask, hence, whether the postulate, that the quantum mechanical operators obey the classical equations of motion, uniquely determines the commutation relations. The answer is found to depend on the form of the Hamiltonian and is in the negative for a free particle and for the harmonic oscillator.

  • Received 9 November 1949

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.77.711

©1950 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Eugene P. Wigner

  • Palmer Physical Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

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Issue

Vol. 77, Iss. 5 — March 1950

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