Past exam of the theoretical physics II course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / 3 / a

For a time-independent Hamiltonian operator, the time-evolution operator is $U(T)=e^{-iHT/\hslash }$, with $T=t-t^{\prime }$. Insert its resolution of identity in normalized energy eigenstates:Since $⟨x|\alpha ⟩={\phi }_{\alpha }(x)$, the retarded quantum propagator in the question isThe Heaviside step function imposes the chosen retarded convention. If the Hamiltonian operator has a continuous spectrum, the spectral sum includes its continuum integral; it must not be restricted to bound states. The spectral resolution of a quantum propagator also shows that $K$ tends to $\delta (x-x^{\prime })$ as $T\downarrow 0$. With the step factor it obeys $(i\hslash {\partial }_t-H)K=i\hslash \delta (T)\delta (x-x^{\prime })$; the corresponding Green function with a unit delta source is $K/(i\hslash )$.