Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2020/ii/paper-2/34a/b/i/solution

The operator annihilates one field quantum and excites the atom. Its adjoint de-excites the atom and creates one field quantum. These are the two exchange processes in the Jaynes-Cummings model.
Unitary time evolution requires the Hamiltonian to be Hermitian. Since the common coefficient is real, the two terms must be adjoints with equal coefficients. Therefore

New to topics? Read the docs here!