Quantum Phase and Quantum Phase Operators: Some Physics and Some History

Abstract

After reviewing the role of phase in quantum mechanics, I discuss, with the aid of a number of unpublished documents, the development of quantum phase operators in the 1960's. Interwoven in the discussion are the critical physics questions of the field: Are there (unique) quantum phase operators and are there quantum systems which can determine their nature? I conclude with a critique of recent proposals which have shed new light on the problem.

19 pages, 2 Figs. taken from published articles, LaTeX, to be published in Physica Scripta, Los Alamos preprint LA-UR-92-3522

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