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Equation 130 · The Entry a Relabeling Cannot Write

What does this equation mean?

U˙U†=iωrσz/2\dot U U^\dagger = i\omega_r\sigma_z/2

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Inputs and operationsiomega_rsigma_z/2
Result or conditiondot U U^dagger
How to read the two sides of this formula. Follow the article passage for the meaning of each quantity.

This equation states an equality: the expressions on both sides have the same value under the article’s assumptions. Read the equation part by part below; each part has a contextual explanation and a link to its mathematical background.

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U˙\dot U

Symbol dot U

dot U has a dot, marking the rate of change of the underlying indexed quantity with respect to the article’s time variable.

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U†U^\dagger

Symbol U^dagger

UdU^dagger is part of the quantity the equation computes from the expression on the right.

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ii

Symbol i

i is an input to the expression that computes the quantity on the left.

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ωr\omega_r

Symbol omega_r

omegara_r is an input to the expression that computes the quantity on the left.

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σz\sigma_z

Symbol sigma_z

sigmaza_z is an input to the expression that computes the quantity on the left.

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=

=

The expressions on both sides represent the same quantity under the stated assumptions.

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subscript

subscript

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.

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How to interpret it

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What the article says around this equation

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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Sources cited in the article section

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