解:∵$y + |\sqrt {x} - \sqrt 3| = 1 - a^2$
∴$y - 1 = -a^2 - |\sqrt {x} - \sqrt 3|$
又$a^2 \geq 0,$$|\sqrt {x} - \sqrt 3| \geq 0$
∴$y - 1 \leq 0,$即$y \leq 1$
同理,由$|x - 3| = y - 1 - b^2,$得$y - 1 \geq 0$
∴$y \geq 1,$即$y = 1$
∴$-a^2 - |\sqrt {x} - \sqrt 3| = y - 1 = 0,$
$|x - 3| + b^2 = y - 1 = 0$
∴$x = 3,$$a = b = 0,$即$x + y = 4,$$a + b = 0$
∴$2^{x + y} + 2^{a + b} = 2^4 + 2^0 = 17$
∵$(\pm \sqrt {17})^2 = 17$
∴$2^{x + y} + 2^{a + b}$的平方根为$\pm \sqrt {17}$