This work outlines a consistent method of identifying subsystems in finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, independent of the underlying inner-product structure. Such Hilbert spaces arise in $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric quantum mechanics, where a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is made self-adjoint by changing the inner product using the so-called ``metric operator". This is the framework of pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics. For composite quantum systems in this framework, defining subsystems is generally considered feasible only when the metric operator is chosen to have a tensor product form so that a partial trace operation can be well defined. In this work, we use arguments from algebraic quantum mechanics to show that the subsystems can be well-defined in every metric space - irrespective of whether or not the metric is of tensor product form. This is done by identifying subsystems with a decomposition of the underlying C*-algebra into commuting subalgebras. Although the choice of the metric is known to have no effect on the system's statistics, we show that different choices of the metric can lead to inequivalent subsystem decompositions. Each of the subsystems can be tomographically constructed and these subsystems satisfy the no-signalling principle. With these results, we put all the choices of the metric operator on an equal footing for composite systems.
We demonstrate how to discriminate two non-orthogonal, entangled quantum state which are slightly different from each other by using pseudo-Hermitian system. The positive definite metric operator which makes the pseudo-Hermitian systems fully consistent quantum theory is used for such a state discrimination. We further show that non-orthogonal states can evolve through a suitably constructed pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian to orthogonal states. Such evolution ceases at exceptional points of the pseudo-Hermitian system.
The time-dependent pseudo-Hermitian formulation of quantum mechanics allows to study open system dynamics in analogy to Hermitian quantum systems. In this setting, we show that the notion of holonomic quantum computation can equally be formulated for pseudo-Hermitian systems. Starting from a degenerate pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian we show that, in the adiabatic limit, a non-Abelian geometric phase emerges which realizes a pseudounitary quantum gate. We illustrate our findings by studying a pseudo-Hermitian gain/loss system which can be written in the form of a tripod Hamiltonian by using the b…
We have briefly analyzed the existence of the pseudofermionic structure of multilevel pseudo-Hermitian systems with odd time-reversal and higher order involutive symmetries. We have shown that 2N-level Hamiltonians with N-order eigenvalue degeneracy can be represented in the oscillator-like form in terms of pseudofermionic creation and annihilation operators for both real and complex eigenvalues. The example of most general four-level traceless Hamiltonian with odd time-reversal symmetry, which is an extension of the SO(5) Hermitian Hamiltonian, is considered in greater and explicit detail.
We extend the formulation of pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics to eta-pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian operators H with an unbounded metric operator eta. In particular, we give the details of the construction of the physical Hilbert space, observables, and equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian for the case that H has a real and discrete spectrum and its eigenvectors belong to the domain of eta and consequently its positive square root.
The author discusses a different kind of Hermitian quantum mechanics, called $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics. He shows that $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics is indeed $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics, and that time evolution (in the Krein space of states) is unitary if and only if Hamiltonian is $J$-Hermitian (or equivalently $PT$-symmetric). An issue with unitarity comes up when time evolution is considered in the Hilbert space of states rather than in the Krein space of states. The author offers possible scenarios with this issue.
We analyse here the pseudo-Hermitian Dynamical Casimir effect, proposing a non-Hermitian version of the effective Law's Hamiltonian used to describe the phenomenon. We verify that the average number of created photons can be substantially increased, a result which calls the attention to the possibility of engineering the time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian we have assumed. Given the well-known difficulty in detecting the Casimir photon production, the present result reinforces the importance of pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics as a new chapter of quantum theory and an important tool for…
We show that the metric operator for a pseudo-supersymmetric Hamiltonian that has at least one negative real eigenvalue is necessarily indefinite. We introduce pseudo-Hermitian fermion (phermion) and abnormal phermion algebras and provide a pair of basic realizations of the algebra of N=2 pseudo-supersymmetric quantum mechanics in which pseudo-supersymmetry is identified with either a boson-phermion or a boson-abnormal-phermion exchange symmetry. We further establish the physical equivalence (non-equivalence) of phermions (abnormal phermions) with ordinary fermions, describe the underlying Lie…
In this parer, q-deformed oscillator for pseudo-Hermitian systems is investigated and pseudo-Hermitian appropriate coherent and squeezed states are studied. Also, some basic properties of these states is surveyed. The over-completeness property of the para-Grassmannian pseudo-Hermitian coherent states (PGPHCSs) examined, and also the stability of coherent and squeezed states discussed. The pseudo-Hermitian supercoherent states as the product of a pseudo-Hermitian bosonic coherent state and a para-Grassmannian pseudo-Hermitian coherent state introduced, and the method also developed to define 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.
In this paper we present a model exhibiting a new type of continuous-time quantum walk (as a quantum mechanical transport process) on networks, which is described by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian possessing a real spectrum. We call it pseudo-Hermitian continuous-time quantum walk. We introduce a method to obtain the probability distribution of walk on any vertex and then study a specific system. We observe that the probability distribution on certain vertices increases compared to that of the Hermitian case. This formalism makes the transport process faster and can be useful for search algorithm…
We show in the present paper that pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems with even PT-symmetry admit a degeneracy structure. This kind of degeneracy is expected traditionally in the odd PT-symmetric systems which is appropriate to the fermions as shown by Jones-Smith and Mathur [1] who extended PT-symmetric quantum mechanics to the case of odd time-reversal symmetry. We establish that the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians with even PT-symmetry admit a degeneracy structure if the operator PT anticommutes with the metric operator η which is necessarily indefinite. We also show that the Krein space for…
We introduce the notion of pseudo-Hermiticity and show that every Hamiltonian with a real spectrum is pseudo-Hermitian. We point out that all the PT-symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonians studied in the literature belong to the class of pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians, and argue that the basic structure responsible for the particular spectral properties of these Hamiltonians is their pseudo-Hermiticity. We explore the basic properties of general pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians, develop pseudo-supersymmetric quantum mechanics, and study some concrete examples, namely the Hamiltonian of the two-compon…
We introduce generalized versions of complex Scarf and Morse-type potentials that con- tain energy-dependent parameters. PT -symmetry and pseudo-hermiticity of the associated quantum systems are discussed, and a modified orthogonality relation and pseudo-norm are constructed. We show that despite energy-dependence, our systems can admit real energy spectra and normalizable solutions of bound-state type.
The purpose of this paper is to generalize fermionic coherent states for two-level systems described by pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian \cite{Trifonov}, to n-level systems. Central to this task is the expression of the coherent states in terms of generalized Grassmann variables. These kind of Grassmann coherent states satisfy bi-overcompleteness condition instead of over-completeness one, as it is reasonably expected because of the biorthonormality of the system. Choosing an appropriate Grassmann weight function resolution of identity is examined. Moreover Grassmannian coherent and squeezed state…
We show that a Dicke-type pseudo-hermitian Hamiltonian undergoes quantum phase transition by mapping it to the "Dressed Dicke Model" through a similarity transformation. We find the positive-definite metric in the Hilbert space of the pseudo-hermitian Hamiltonian so that it is unitary and allows a consistent quantum description. Further, we obtain the limit in which the pseudo-hermitian Hamiltonian is exactly solvable.
Diagonalizable pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians with real and discrete spectra, which are superpartners of Hermitian Hamiltonians, must be $η$-pseudo-Hermitian with Hermitian, positive-definite and non-singular $η$ operators. We show that despite the fact that an $η$ operator produced by a supersymmetric transformation, corresponding to the exact supersymmetry, is singular, it can be used to find the eigenfunctions of a Hermitian operator equivalent to the given pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Once the eigenfunctions of the Hermitian operator are found the operator may be reconstructed with the hel…
The differential-equation eigenvalue problem associated with a recently-introduced Hamiltonian, whose eigenvalues correspond to the zeros of the Riemann zeta function, is analyzed using Fourier and WKB analysis. The Fourier analysis leads to a challenging open problem concerning the formulation of the eigenvalue problem in the momentum space. The WKB analysis gives the exact asymptotic behavior of the eigenfunction.
In this work we present a general formalism to treat non-Hermitian and noncommutative Hamiltonians. This is done employing the phase-space formalism of quantum mechanics, which allows to write a set of robust maps connecting the Hamitonians and the associated Wigner functions to the different Hilbert space structures, namely, those describing the non-Hermitian and noncommutative, Hermitian and noncommutative, and Hermitian and commutative systems. A general recipe is provided to obtain the expected values of the more general Hamiltonian. Finally, we apply our method to the harmonic oscillator …
With a view to eliminate an important misconception in some recent publications, we give a brief review of the notion of a pseudo-Hermitian operator, outline pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics, and discuss its basic difference with the indefinite-metric quantum mechanics. In particular, we show that the answer to the question posed in the title is a definite No.
The spectral singularity have been extensively studied over the last one and half decade for different non-Hermitian potentials in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics. The nature of spectral singularities have not been studied for the case of quaternionic potential. In the present work we perform an analytical study for the scattering from a quaternionic point interaction represented by delta function. New features of spectral singularities are observed which are different than the case of complex (non-quaternionic) point interaction. Most notable difference is the occurrence of spectral singulari…
We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the reality of the spectrum of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian admitting a complete set of biorthonormal eigenvectors.
The spectral analysis of a non-Hermitian unbounded operator appearing in quantum physics is our main concern. The properties of such an operator are essentially different from those of Hermitian Hamiltonians, namely due to spectral instabilities. We demonstrate that the considered operator and its adjoint can be diagonalized when expressed in terms of certain conveniently constructed operators. We show that their eigenfunctions constitute complete systems, but do not form Riesz bases. Attempts to overcome this difficulty in the quantum mechanical set up are pointed out.
A reformulation of quantum mechanics called ``hybrid interaction picture'' (HIP) is proposed. In contrast to its current non-Hermitian-interaction-picture (NIP) predecessor the new formalism combines a simplification of the NIP Hilbert-space metric with an innovative preconditioning of the observables of interest. Via an illustrative example it is shown that the idea might open new ways towards optimal model-building strategies in quantum theory of unitary systems.
We propose giving the mathematical concept of the pseudospectrum a central role in quantum mechanics with non-Hermitian operators. We relate pseudospectral properties to quasi-Hermiticity, similarity to self-adjoint operators, and basis properties of eigenfunctions. The abstract results are illustrated by unexpected wild properties of operators familiar from PT-symmetric quantum mechanics.
A non-Hermitian operator that is related to its adjoint through a similarity transformation is defined as a pseudo-Hermitian operator. We study the level-statistics of a pseudo-Hermitian Dicke Hamiltonian that undergoes Quantum Phase Transition (QPT). We find that the level-spacing distribution of this Hamiltonian near the integrable limit is close to Poisson distribution, while it is Wigner distribution for the ranges of the parameters for which the Hamiltonian is non-integrable. We show that the assertion in the context of the standard Dicke model that QPT is a precursor to a change in the l…
We provide a careful analysis of the generating functional in the path integral formulation of pseudo-Hermitian and in particular PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and show how the metric operator enters the expression for the generating functional.
The Dirac equation in $(2+1)$ dimensions on the toroidal surface is studied for a massless fermion particle under the action of external fields. Using the covariant approach based on general relativity, the Dirac operator stemming from a metric related to the strain tensor is discussed within the Pseudo-Hermitian operator theory. Furthermore, analytical solutions are obtained for two cases, namely, constant and position-dependent Fermi velocity.
A class of non-Dirac-hermitian many-particle quantum systems admitting entirely real spectra and unitary time-evolution is presented. These quantum models are isospectral with Dirac-hermitian systems and are exactly solvable. The general method involves a realization of the basic canonical commutation relations defining the quantum system in terms of operators those are hermitian with respect to a pre-determined positive definite metric in the Hilbert space. Appropriate combinations of these operators result in a large number of pseudo-hermitian quantum systems admitting entirely real spectra …
For a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H possessing a real spectrum, we introduce a canonical orthonormal basis in which a previously introduced unitary mapping of H to a Hermitian Hamiltonian h takes a simple form. We use this basis to construct the observables O of the quantum mechanics based on H. In particular, we introduce pseudo-Hermitian position and momentum operators and a pseudo-Hermitian quantization scheme that relates the latter to the ordinary classical position and momentum observables. These allow us to address the problem of determining the conserved probability density and the under…
We study generalized Dirac oscillators with complex interactions in $(1+1)$ dimensions. It is shown that for the choice of interactions considered here, the Dirac Hamiltonians are $η$ pseudo Hermitian with respect to certain metric operators $η$. Exact solutions of the generalized Dirac Oscillator for some choices of the interactions have also been obtained. It is also shown that generalized Dirac oscillators can be identified with Anti Jaynes Cummings type model and by spin flip it can also be identified with Jaynes Cummings type model.
We present a mathematical formalism of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, following the Dirac-von Neumann formalism of quantum mechanics. In this formalism, the state postulate is the same as in the Dirac-von Neumann formalism, but the observable postulate should be changed to include para-Hermitian operators (spectral operators of scalar type with real spectrum) representing observable, as such both the measurement postulate and the evolution postulate must be modified accordingly. This is based on a Stone type theorem as proved here that the dynamics of non-Hermitian quantum systems is governe…
We investigate the connection between pseudo-Hermitian and Hermitian descriptions for a lattice, which consists of a set of isomorphic pseudo-Hermitian clusters. We show that such non-Hermitian systems can act as Hermitian systems. This is made possible by considering the dynamics of a state involving the superposition of a single eigenmode of each isomorphic clusters. It still holds when multiple eigenmodes are involved when additional restriction on the state is imposed. This Hermitian dynamics is demonstrated for the case of an exactly solvable PT-symmetric ladder system.
We examine the properties and consequences of pseudo-supersymmetry for quantum systems admitting a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We explore the Witten index of pseudo-supersymmetry and show that every pair of diagonalizable (not necessarily Hermitian) Hamiltonians with discrete spectra and real or complex-conjugate pairs of eigenvalues are isospectral and have identical degeneracy structure except perhaps for the zero eigenvalue if and only if they are pseudo-supersymmetric partners. This implies that pseudo-supersymmetry is the basic framework for generating non-Hermitian PT-symmetric and non…
We explain why the main conclusion of Bender et al, hep-th/0511229 [J. Phys. A 39 (2006) 1657] regarding the practical superiority of the non-Hermitian description of PT-symmetric quantum systems over their Hermitian description is not valid. Recalling the essential role played by the Hermitian description in the characterization and interpretation of the physical observables, we maintain that as far as the physical aspects of the theory are concerned the Hermitian description is not only unavoidable but also indispensable.
We investigate quasi-hermitian quantum mechanics in phase space using standard deformation quantization methods: Groenewold star products and Wigner transforms. We focus on imaginary Liouville theory as a representative example where exact results are easily obtained. We emphasize spatially periodic solutions, compute various distribution functions and phase-space metrics, and explore the relationships between them.
We study the quantum entanglement and separability of Hermitian and pseudo-Hermitian systems of identical bosonic or fermionic particles with point interactions. The separability conditions are investigated in detail.
A non-Hermitian operator with a real spectrum and a complete set of eigenvectors may serve as the Hamiltonian operator for a unitary quantum system provided that one makes an appropriate choice for the defining inner product of the physical Hilbert state. We study the consequences of such a choice for the representation of states in terms of projection operators and the geometry of the state space. This allows for a careful treatment of the quantum Brachistochrone problem and shows that it is indeed impossible to achieve faster unitary evolutions using PT-symmetric or other non-Hermitian Hamil…
We generalize a recently proposed approach for the construction of pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians with real spectra. Present technique is based on a simple and straightforward similarity transformation of the coordinate and momentum.
A complexified von Roos Hamiltonian is considered and a Hermitian first-order intertwining differential operator is used to obtain the related position dependent mass $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Using a Liouvillean-type change of variables, the $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian von Roos Hamiltonians H(x) are mapped into the traditional Schrodinger Hamiltonian form H(q), where exact isospectral correspondence between H(x) and H(q) is obtained. Under a user-friendly position dependent mass settings, it is observed that for each exactly-solvable $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian reference-Hamiltonian…
We study the time evolution of quantum systems with a time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian given by a linear combination of SU(1,1) and SU(2) generators.With a time-dependent metric, the pseudo-Hermitian invariant operator is constructed in the same manner as for both the SU(1,1) and SU(2) systems. The exact common solutions of the Schrödinger equations for both the SU(1,1) and SU(2) systems are obtained in terms of eigenstates of the pseudo-Hermitian invariant operator.
We describe a method that allows for a practical application of the theory of pseudo-Hermitian operators to PT-symmetric systems defined on a complex contour. We apply this method to study the Hamiltonians $H=p^2+x^2(ix)^ν$ with $ν\in(-2,\infty)$ that are defined along the corresponding anti-Stokes lines. In particular, we reveal the intrinsic non-Hermiticity of $H$ for the cases that $ν$ is an even integer, so that $H=p^2\pm x^{2+ν}$, and give a proof of the discreteness of the spectrum of $H$ for all $ν\in(-2,\infty)$. Furthermore, we study the consequences of defining a square-well Hamilton…
We investigate some questions on the construction of $η$ operators for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We give a sufficient condition which can be exploited to systematically generate a sequence of $η$ operators starting from a known one, thereby proving the non-uniqueness of $η$ for a particular pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We also study perturbed Hamiltonians for which $η$'s corresponding to the original Hamiltonian still work.
We consider a class of (possibly nondiagonalizable) pseudo-Hermitian operators with discrete spectrum, showing that in no case (unless they are diagonalizable and have a real spectrum) they are Hermitian with respect to a semidefinite inner product, and that the pseudo-Hermiticity property is equivalent to the existence of an antilinear involutory symmetry. Moreover, we show that a typical degeneracy of the real eigenvalues (which reduces to the well known Kramers degeneracy in the Hermitian case) occurs whenever a fermionic (possibly nondiagonalizable) pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian admits an a…
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 show that a diagonalizable (non-Hermitian) Hamiltonian H is pseudo-Hermitian if and only if it has an antilinear symmetry, i.e., a symmetry generated by an invertible antilinear operator. This implies that the eigenvalues of H are real or come in complex conjugate pairs if and only if H possesses such a symmetry. In particular, the reality of the spectrum of H implies the presence of an antilinear symmetry. We further show that the spectrum of H is real if and only if there is a positive-definite inner-product on the Hilbert space with respect to which H is Hermitian or alternatively there …
We extend the definition of generalized parity $P$, charge-conjugation $C$ and time-reversal $T$ operators to nondiagonalizable pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians, and we use these generalized operators to describe the full set of symmetries of a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian according to a fourfold classification. In particular we show that $TP$ and $CTP$ are the generators of the antiunitary symmetries; moreover, a necessary and sufficient condition is provided for a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian $H$ to admit a $P$-reflecting symmetry which generates the $P$-pseudounitary and the $P$-pseudoantiunit…
We introduce creation and annihilation operators of pseudo-Hermitian fermions for two-level systems described by pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian with real eigenvalues. This allows the generalization of the fermionic coherent states approach to such systems. Pseudo-fermionic coherent states are constructed as eigenstates of two pseudo-fermion annihilation operators. These coherent states form a bi-normal and bi-overcomplete system, and their evolution governed by the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian is temporally stable. In terms of the introduced pseudo-fermion operators the two-level system' Hamilto…
In this paper the entanglement of multi-qubit fermionic pseudo Hermitian coherent states (FPHCS) described by anticommutative Grassmann numbers is studied. The pseudo-Hermitian versions of the well known maximally entangled pure states such as Bell and GHZ, W and biseparable states are introduced through integrating over the tensor products of FPHCSs with suitable choice of Grassmannian weight functions. Meanwhile as an illustration, the method is applied to tensor product of 2 and 3 qubit pseudo Hermitian systems. Then the measures of concurrence and average entropy are applied to quantify th…
In his recent paper arXiv:1312.7738, the author discussed $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics and showed that $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics is essentially $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics. In this paper, the author discusses finite $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics which is derived naturally from its continuum one and its relationship with finite $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics.
Attention has been brought to the possibility that statistical fluctuation properties of several complex spectra, or, well-known number sequences may display strong signatures that the Hamiltonian yielding them as eigenvalues is PT-symmetric (Pseudo-Hermitian). We find that the random matrix theory of pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians gives rise to new universalities of level-spacing distributions other than those of GOE, GUE and GSE of Wigner and Dyson. We call the new proposals as Gaussian Pseudo-Orthogonal Ensemble and Gaussian Pseudo-Unitary Ensemble. We are also led to speculate that the enig…
We study the pseudo-Hermitian systems with general spin-coupling point interactions and give a systematic description of the corresponding boundary conditions for PT-symmetric systems. The corresponding integrability for both bosonic and fermionic many-body systems with PT-symmetric contact interactions is investigated.
