Translation of "Die Messung quantenmechanischer Operatoren" by E.P.~Wigner

TL;DR

This paper provides a facsimile translation of Wigner's foundational work on quantum measurement limitations imposed by conservation laws, along with a survey of subsequent developments related to the Wigner-Araki-Yanase theorem.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed translation of Wigner's original paper and reviews the evolution of the WAY theorem in quantum measurement theory.

Findings

Highlights the fundamental measurement constraints due to conservation laws

Reviews historical and modern extensions of the WAY theorem

Clarifies the theorem's implications for quantum measurement

Abstract

This is a 'facsimile-style' translation of Wigner's seminal paper on measurement limitations in the presence of additive conservation laws. A critical survey of the history of subsequent extensions and variations of what is now known as the Wigner-Araki-Yanase (WAY) Theorem is provided in a paper published concurrently.