Interaction picture as any other operator. In particular, let and be the density matrices in the interaction picture and the Schrödinger picture respectively. If there is probability to be in the physical state |"ψ"〉, then Transforming the Schrödinger equation into the interaction picture gives which states that in the interaction picture, a quantum state is evolved by the interaction part of the Hamiltonian as expressed in the interaction picture. If the operator "A" is time-independent (i.e., does not have "explicit time dependence"; see above), then the corresponding time evolution for "A"("t") is given by In the interaction picture the operators evolve in
History of variational principles in physics History of variational principles in physics A variational principle in physics is an alternative method for determining the state or dynamics of a physical system, by identifying it as an extremum (minimum, maximum or saddle point) of a function or functional. This article describes the historical development of such principles. Variational principles are found among earlier ideas in surveying and optics. The rope stretchers of ancient Egypt stretched corded ropes between two points to measure the path which minimized the distance of separation, and Claudius Ptolemy, in his Geographia (Bk 1, Ch 2), emphasized that one must correct for "deviations