Some remarks on (symmetric?) time in quantum mechanics

CRISTIAN LÓPEZ

Buenos Aires

Congreso; V Conference on Quantum Foundations: Ontological Problems 80 Years after EPR; 2015

Universidad de La Plata - FQXi (Foundational Questions Institute)

The aim of this presentation is to consider the problem of the arrow of time in quantum mechanics. We will begin by recalling the different results obtained from applying the Wigner operator T∗ and the Racah operator T to the Schrödinger equation: quantum mechanics is both T∗-invariant theory and T-non-invariant.To tackle this situation, we will consider two alternatives: (i) to accept that QM is not time-reversal invariant, in contradiction to the commonly accepted assumption; (ii) to agree with the common opinion that QM is time- reversal invariant, but in contradiction to idea that the time-reversal operator must be defined independently of the theory. We will discuss this alternatives and we will wonder to what extent is it possible to define an ?objective? time reversal operator in quantum mechanics.