Symmetry in quantum mechanics Formally, symmetry operations can be represented by a group of (typically) unitary transformations (or operators), Uˆ such that Oˆ → Uˆ †Oˆ Uˆ Such unitary transformations are said to be symmetries of a general operator Oˆ if Uˆ †Oˆ Uˆ = Oˆ i.e., since Uˆ † = Uˆ −1 (unitary), [Oˆ, Uˆ ]=0.

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