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Equation 129 · Part 5 · The Entry a Relabeling Cannot Write

subscript

UHfU†=HfUH_fU^\dagger = H_f
subscript

What this part means

The lower label selects a particular version, component, or indexed member of the quantity. For example, x₀ and xₜ can be values at different positions.

Its job in the formula

A subscript distinguishes a version, component, step, or member of a quantity. It does not automatically mean multiplication.

The passage around this formula

A single case makes the term concrete and ties it to a result nearly a century old. Let HfH_f = (ℏ\hbarω0\omega_0/2)σz\sigma_z , a spin precessing about a static field at its Larmor frequency, and let U(t) = exp⁡(iωrt σz/2)\exp(i\omega_r t\,\sigma_z/2) describe a frame rotating about the same axis at rate ωr\omega_r . Since U(t) is built entirely from σz\sigma_z , it commutes with HfH_f , so UHfH_fU†U^\dagger = HfH_f exactly and the bare conjugate is unchanged by the relabeling. But U˙\dot U U†U^\dagger = iωr\omega_rσz\sigma_z/2 exactly, giving

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Learn the underlying idea

A subscript is a label attached below a symbol. It often selects a time step, component, category, or member of a sequence.

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Sources cited in the article section

These citations provide research context; check each source for the exact claim it supports.