Wigner's theorem revisited

Abstract

In this paper, we give the general solution of the functional equation $$\big\{\|f(x)+f(y)\|,\|f(x)-f(y)\|\big\}=\big\{\|x+y\|,\|x-y\|\big\}\qquad(x,y\in X)$$ where $f:X\to Y$ and $X,Y$ are inner product spaces. Related equations are also considered. Our main tool is a real version of Wigner's unitary--antiunitary theorem.