Remarks Concerning Reciprocity in Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

A new derivation of the reciprocity theorem is given. The general invariance property of the Hamiltonian which leads to symmetry of the Green's function for a quantum mechanical system is exhibited. It is found that reciprocity does not necessarily imply Hermiticity of the Hamiltonian, so that the ``complex optical model potential,'' for example, satisfies the reciprocity relations. The concept of reciprocity is then generalized to include a somewhat wider class of symmetry properties. Some properties of antiunitary transformations are discussed.