If the system is known to be in one of two non-orthogonal quantum states, $|ψ_1\rangle$ or $|ψ_2\rangle$, $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics can discriminate them, \textit{in principle}, by a single measurement. We extend this approach by combining $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric and Hermitian measurements and show that it's possible to distinguish an arbitrary number of pure quantum states by an appropriate choice of the parameters of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonian.
Currently, it has been claimed that certain Hermitian Hamiltonians have parity (P) and they are PT-invariant. We propose generalized definitions of time-reversal operator (T) and orthonormality such that all Hermitian Hamiltonians are P, T, PT, and CPT invariant. The PT-norm and CPT-norm are indefinite and definite respectively. The energy-eigenstates are either E-type (e.g., even) or O-type (e.g., odd). C mimics the charge-conjugation symmetry which is recently found to exist for a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. For a Hermitian Hamiltonian it coincides with P.
We propose construction of a unique and definite metric ($η_+$), time-reversal operator (T) and an inner product such that the pseudo-Hermitian matrix Hamiltonians are C, PT, and CPT invariant and PT(CPT)-norm is indefinite (definite). Here, P and C denote the generalized symmetries : parity and charge-conjugation respectively. The limitations of the other current approaches have been brought out.
We study certain linear and antilinear symmetry generators and involution operators associated with pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians and show that the theory of pseudo-Hermitian operators provides a simple explanation for the recent results of Bender, Brody and Jones (quant-ph/0208076) on the CPT-symmetry of a class of PT-symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We present a natural extension of these results to the class of diagonalizable pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians H with a discrete spectrum. In particular, we introduce generalized parity (${\cal P}$), time-reversal (${\cal T}$), and charge-conj…
We extend the $CPT$ theorem to quantum field theories with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and unstable states. Our derivation is a quite minimal one as it requires only the time independent evolution of scalar products, invariance under complex Lorentz transformations, and a non-standard but nonetheless perfectly legitimate interpretation of charge conjugation as an anti-linear operator. The first of these requirements does not force the Hamiltonian to be Hermitian. Rather, it forces its eigenvalues to either be real or to appear in complex conjugate pairs, forces the eigenvectors of such conjugat…
In the literature the $CPT$ theorem has only been established for Hamiltonians that are Hermitian. Here we extend the $CPT$ theorem to quantum field theories with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Our derivation is a quite minimal one as it requires only the time independent evolution of scalar products and invariance under complex Lorentz transformations. The first of these requirements does not force the Hamiltonian to be Hermitian. Rather, it forces its eigenvalues to either be real or to appear in complex conjugate pairs, forces the eigenvectors of such conjugate pairs to be conjugates of each o…
Classical observable coalescence as a discriminating diagnostic for spectral degeneracies in non-Hermitian systems
Higher Teachers Training College, University of Bamenda（巴门达大学高等教师培训学院）；Promotion Centre of Research for Technological Advancement and Sustainable Development (PCR-TASD)（技术进步与可持续发展研究促进中心）；Quantum Materials and Computing Group (QMaCG)（量子材料与计算小组）；Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku（马苏库科学技术大学）；Laboratoire d’Optique, Laser et Applications（光学、激光及应用实验室）；Département de Physique（物理系；理学院）；Faculté des Sciences（物理学研究单元）；Unité de Recherche en Physique（凝聚态物质、电子与信号处理研究单元）；Unité de Recherche de Matière Condensée, d’Électronique et de Traitement de Signal (URMACETS)（杜尚格大学）；University of Dschang
Emphasizing the physical constraints on the formulation of a quantum theory based on the standard measurement axiom and the Schroedinger equation, we comment on some conceptual issues arising in the formulation of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. In particular, we elaborate on the requirements of the boundedness of the metric operator and the diagonalizability of the Hamiltonian. We also provide an accessible account of a Krein-space derivation of the CPT-inner product that was widely known to mathematicians since 1950's. We show how this derivation is linked with the pseudo-Hermitian formulati…
A new version of an elementary PT-symmetric square well quantum model is proposed in which a certain Hermiticity-violating end-point interaction leaves the spectrum real in a large domain of couplings $λ\in (-1,1)$. Within this interval we employ the usual coupling-independent operator P of parity and construct, in a systematic Runge-Kutta discrete approximation, a coupling-dependent operator of charge C which enables us to classify our P-asymmetric model as CPT-symmetric or, equivalently, hiddenly Hermitian alias cryptohermitian.
We show that a quantum system possessing an exact antilinear symmetry, in particular PT-symmetry, is equivalent to a quantum system having a Hermitian Hamiltonian. We construct the unitary operator relating an arbitrary non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with exact PT-symmetry to a Hermitian Hamiltonian. We apply our general results to PT-symmetry in finite-dimensions and give the explicit form of the above-mentioned unitary operator and Hermitian Hamiltonian in two dimensions. Our findings lead to the conjecture that non-Hermitian CPT-symmetric field theories are equivalent to certain nonlocal Hermiti…
We present a systematic perturbative construction of the most general metric operator (and positive-definite inner product) for quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians of the standard form, H= p^2/2 + v(x), in one dimension. We show that this problem is equivalent to solving an infinite system of iteratively decoupled hyperbolic partial differential equations in (1+1)-dimensions. For the case that v(x) is purely imaginary, the latter have the form of a nonhomogeneous wave equation which admits an exact solution. We apply our general method to obtain the most general metric operator for the imaginary cubi…
Currently there is much interest in Hamiltonians that are not Hermitian but instead possess an antilinear $PT$ symmetry, since such Hamiltonians can still lead to the time-independent evolution of scalar products, and can still have an entirely real energy spectrum. However, such theories can also admit of energy spectra in which energies come in complex conjugate pairs, and can even admit of Hamiltonians that cannot be diagonalized at all. Hermiticity is just a particular realization of $PT$ symmetry, with $PT$ symmetry being the more general. These $PT$ theories are themselves part of an eve…
We study the interplay between spontaneously breaking global continuous and discrete antilinear symmetries in a newly proposed general class of non-Hermitian quantum field theories containing a mixture of complex and real scalar fields. We analyse the model for different types of global symmetry preserving and breaking vacua. In addition, the models are symmetric under various types of discrete antilinear symmetries composed out of nonstandard simultaneous charge conjugations, time-reversals and parity transformations; CPT. While the global symmetry governs the existence of massless Goldstone …
We develop relativistic wave equations in the framework of the new non-hermitian ${\cal PT}$ quantum mechanics. The familiar Hermitian Dirac equation emerges as an exact result of imposing the Dirac algebra, the criteria of ${\cal PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics, and relativistic invariance. However, relaxing the constraint that in particular the mass matrix be Hermitian also allows for models that have no counterpart in conventional quantum mechanics. For example it is well-known that a quartet of Weyl spinors coupled by a Hermitian mass matrix reduces to two independent Dirac fermions; here…
Quantum Chaos Diagnostics for non-Hermitian Systems from Bi-Lanczos Krylov Dynamics
Shanghai Jiao Tong University（上海交通大学）；Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences（上海量子科学研究中心）；Instituto de Física Teórica UAM/CSIC（UAM/CSIC理论物理研究所）；Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics（亚太理论物理中心）；Pohang University of Science and Technology（韩国科学技术院）；Technical University of Munich（慕尼黑工业大学）；Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München（慕尼黑大学）；Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology（光州科学技术研究院）
Nonorthogonal quantum state discrimination (QSD) plays an important role in quantum information and quantum communication. In addition, compared to Hermitian quantum systems, parity-time-($\mathcal{PT}$-)symmetric non-Hermitian quantum systems exhibit novel phenomena and have attracted considerable attention. Here, we experimentally demonstrate QSD in a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric system (i.e., $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric QSD), by having quantum states evolve under a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonian in a lossy linear optical setup. We observe that two initially nonorthogonal states can rapidly e…
It is shown that the standard formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of Hermitian Hamiltonians is overly restrictive. A consistent physical theory of quantum mechanics can be built on a complex Hamiltonian that is not Hermitian but satisfies the less restrictive and more physical condition of space-time reflection symmetry (PT symmetry). Thus, there are infinitely many new Hamiltonians that one can construct to explain experimental data. One might expect that a quantum theory based on a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian would violate unitarity. However, if PT symmetry is not spontaneously broken, i…
A diagonalizable non-Hermitian Hamiltonian having a real spectrum may be used to define a unitary quantum system, if one modifies the inner product of the Hilbert space properly. We give a comprehensive and essentially self-contained review of the basic ideas and techniques responsible for the recent developments in this subject. We provide a critical assessment of the role of the geometry of the Hilbert space in conventional quantum mechanics to reveal the basic physical principle motivating our study. We then offer a survey of the necessary mathematical tools and elaborate on a number of rel…
In a recent paper it was shown that if a Hamiltonian H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then it also possesses a hidden symmetry represented by the linear operator C. The operator C commutes with both H and PT. The inner product with respect to CPT is associated with a positive norm and the quantum theory built on the associated Hilbert space is unitary. In this paper it is shown how to construct the operator C for the non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian $H={1\over2}p^2+{1\over2}x^2 +iεx^3$ using perturbative techniques. It is also shown how to construct the operator C for $H={1\over2}p^2+{1\ov…
The separability detecting problem of mixed states is one of the fundamental problems in quantum information theory. In the last 20 years, almost all methods are based on the sufficient or necessary conditions for entanglement. However, in this paper, we only need one algorithm to solve the problem. We propose a tensor optimization method to check whether an $m$-partite quantum mixed state is separable or not and give a decomposition for it if it is. We first convert the separability discrimination problem of mixed states to the positive Hermitian decomposition problem of Hermitian tensors. Th…
We analyze quantum state tomography in scenarios where measurements and states are both constrained. States are assumed to live in a semi-algebraic subset of state space and measurements are supposed to be rank-one POVMs, possibly with additional constraints. Specifically, we consider sets of von Neumann measurements and sets of local observables. We provide upper bounds on the minimal number of measurement settings or outcomes that are required for discriminating all states within the given set. The bounds exploit tools from real algebraic geometry and lead to generic results that do not only…
