If a quantum harmonic oscillator's Hamiltonian is described by a formal operator, which consequence follows when the oscillator is perturbed by a weak, time-independent potential?

💡 Explanation

When a time-independent perturbation is applied, degenerate energy levels may split due to the lifting of the degeneracy by the perturbation operator, because the perturbation mixes states. Therefore, splitting occurs, rather than energy collapse or preserved symmetry under weak perturbations.

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