# Is time reversal symmetry broken in (conventional) superconductors?

How can one see it from BCS wavefunction and BCS Hamiltonian? i.e.

$$H_{BCS}=\sum_{k\sigma}\epsilon_k c_{k\sigma}^\dagger c_{k\sigma}-\Delta^*\sum_k c_{k\uparrow}^\dagger c_{-k\downarrow}^\dagger+h.c.$$

and:

$$\Psi_{BCS}=\Pi_k(u_k+v_k c_{k\uparrow}^\dagger c_{-k\downarrow}^\dagger)|0\rangle$$

If it has this symmetry, what significance does it has?

The Hamiltonian is time-reversal invariant: $c_{k\uparrow}\rightarrow c_{-k,\downarrow}, c_{k\downarrow}\rightarrow -c_{-k,\uparrow}$. You can check that explicitly. The ground state is also invariant, because Cooper pairs are all spin singlet.
• I don't quite understand why time reversal symmetry is effected as $c_{k \uparrow} \to c_{-k \downarrow}$ and $c_{k \downarrow} \to -c_{-k \uparrow}$... I know this is because of a lack of my conceptual understanding, but how does one define the action of time reversal symmetry on spin variables, fermionic variables, Majorana modes from first principles? – nervxxx Apr 17 '15 at 1:50
• I'm asking because let's say I'm given a random spin Hamiltonian. Or perhaps random fermionic Hamiltonian. How can I tell if it's time reversal invariant or not? I see many expositions like "because H is invariant under complex conjugation so it is T-invariant"... that doesn't mean anything to me.. How does one define complex conjugation in a basis independent fashion? (For example, the Pauli MATRIX $\sigma^y$ is not-time reversal invariant because of the special basis I've chosen for it, but what's special about this basis? I would like to think of it as obeying the Pauli algebra only) – nervxxx Apr 17 '15 at 1:53
• Is there a relation that $u_k^*=u_{-k}$ because of this symmetry ? – an offer can't refuse Apr 17 '15 at 15:21