Gauge Transformations in Quantum Mechanics and the Unification of Nonlinear Schr\"odinger Equations

Beginning with ordinary quantum mechanics for spinless particles, together with the hypothesis that all experimental measurements consist of positional measurements at different times, we characterize directly a class of nonlinear quantum theories physically equivalent to linear quantum mechanics through nonlinear gauge transformations. We show that under two physically-motivated assumptions, these transformations are uniquely determined: they are exactly the group of time-dependent, nonlinear gauge transformations introduced previously for a family of nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations. The general equation in this family, including terms considered by Kostin, by Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski, and by Doebner and Goldin, with time-dependent coefficients, can be obtained from the linear Schr\"odinger equation through gauge transformation and a subsequent process we call gauge generalization. We thus unify, on fundamental grounds, a rather diverse set of nonlinear time-evolutions in quantum mechanics.Comment: RevTeX, 20 pages, no figures. also available on http://www.pt.tu-clausthal.de/preprints/asi-tpa/021-96.htm

On Global and Nonlinear Symmetries in Quantum Mechanics

(3) and furthermore nonlinear Schroedinger equations with given potentials which were also derived in another context in [1, 2]

The stationary KdV hierarchy and so(2,1) as a spectrum generating algebra

The family F of all potentials V(x) for which the Hamiltonian H in one space dimension possesses a high order Lie symmetry is determined. A sub-family F', which contains a class of potentials allowing a realization of so(2,1) as spectrum generating algebra of H through differential operators of finite order, is identified. Furthermore and surprisingly, the families F and F' are shown to be related to the stationary KdV hierarchy. Hence, the "harmless" Hamiltonian H connects different mathematical objects, high order Lie symmetry, realization of so(2,1)-spectrum generating algebra and families of nonlinear differential equations. We describe in a physical context the interplay between these objects.Comment: 15 pages, LaTe