ABSTRACT
The description of the time evolution of systems is technically known as the "Schrodinger picture." An important alternative description is the "Heisenberg picture," which indeed was the one Heisenberg used when he first formulated quantum mechanics. The Schrodinger and Heisenberg pictures represent two different but equivalent sets of rules. In other words, when applied to a given physical situation they lead to the same observable predictions. In some respects, the Heisenberg picture presents definite technical advantages. It is particularly convenient, for instance, in quantum field theory. The chapter discusses work consistently with the equivalent Schrodinger set of rules. For this reason, it describes briefly the Heisenberg formulation. The chapter shows that the expressions used in the Schrodinger picture can be carried over to the Heisenberg picture. It implies, however, that the kets associated with the possible values that can be found upon measurement of an observable are themselves time-dependent kets.
