Bras and Kets in Euclidean Path Integrals

Quantum mechanics requires a hermitian inner product <~,~> -- linear in one variable, antilinear in the other -- while the inner product (~,~) that comes most naturally from Euclidean path integrals is linear in each variable. Here we discuss the relation between the two inner products. In a theory with no time-reversal or reflection symmetry, they differ by an operator that complex conjugates the wavefunction and reverses the orientation of space; in the presence of reflection and time-reversal symmetry, space is unoriented so such an operator cannot be defined, but the time-reversal symmetry T is available instead and plays the same role.

Publication Details

Journal
ArXiv.org
Published
2025-03-17
Primary Topic
Algebraic and Geometric Analysis
Type
article
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article

Bras and Kets in Euclidean Path Integrals

ArXiv.org
Algebraic and Geometric Analysis
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Bras and Kets in Euclidean Path Integrals

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Abstract

Quantum mechanics requires a hermitian inner product <~,~> -- linear in one variable, antilinear in the other -- while the inner product (~,~) that comes most naturally from Euclidean path integrals is linear in each variable. Here we discuss the relation between the two inner products. In a theory with no time-reversal or reflection symmetry, they differ by an operator that complex conjugates the wavefunction and reverses the orientation of space; in the presence of reflection and time-reversal symmetry, space is unoriented so such an operator cannot be defined, but the time-reversal symmetry T is available instead and plays the same role.

ArXiv.org
Openalex Percentile: Top 39%
Algebraic and Geometric Analysis
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Bras and Kets in Euclidean Path Integrals · ArXiv.org (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS