Symmetry in

Quantum
Mechanics
Arkayan Laha
15PH05001

Table of Contents
Motivation
Introduction
Symmetry in Classical Mechanics
Future Plans
Bibliography

Motivation
Degeneracies in Quantum
Mechanical system can be described.
Conserved quantities in Quantum
Mechanics can also be explained.

Introduction
What is Symmetry?
Symmetry is a kind of operation
on the system , which makes the
system invariant from the
original one.
Examples : Translation of space
and time operations , Rotational
operation.

 Symmetry can be classified as continuous

and discrete symmetries.
Continuous Symmetry : Symmetry
operations , which are obtained by performing
successively infinitesimal symmetry operations.

Examples:

Space translational and Rotational

operations in classical mechanics .

Discrete Symmetry :

Symmetry
operations , opposite to continuous symmetry .

Examples: Lattice translation , parity

and time reversal.

Future Plans
Will explain symmetry operator in
details .
Will discuss some discrete symmetry
examples (Parity , time reversal ) .
Will discuss how does degeneracy
relate with the symmetry in the
system .
Will discuss conservation laws in
quantum mechanics.

Bibliography
1. J.J Sakurai .,Modern Quantum
Mechanics , Second Edition-Chapter
4.
2. Steven Weinberg ., Lectures on
Quantum Mechanics , Section 3.4.
3. Feynman ,R.P Leighton ,R.B and
Sands ,M .,The Feynman Lectures on
Physics, Vol. 3, Chapter-17

Thank you