The Feshbach-type reduction of the Hilbert space to the physically most relevant "model" subspace is suggested as a means of a formal unification of the standard quantum mechanics with its recently proposed PT symmetric modification. The resulting "effective" Hamiltonians H(eff) are always Hermitian, and the two alternative forms of their energy-dependence are interpreted as a certain dynamical nonlinearity, responsible for the repulsion and/or attraction of the levels in the Hermitian and/or PT symmetric cases, respectively. The spontaneous PT symmetry breaking is then reflected by the loss of the Hermiticity of H(eff) while the pseudo-unitary evolution law persists in the unreduced Hilbert space.
The concept of number is fundamental to the formulation of any physical theory. We give a heuristic motivation for the reformulation of Quantum Mechanics in terms of non-standard real numbers called Quantum Real Numbers. The standard axioms of quantum mechanics are re-interpreted. Our aim is to show that, when formulated in the language of quantum real numbers, the laws of quantum mechanics appear more natural, less counterintuitive than when they are presented in terms of standard numbers.
In contrast to wave functions in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics interpreted as probability amplitudes, wave functions in relativistic quantum mechanics have generalized meanings such as charge-density amplitudes, energy-density amplitudes as well as particle-number density amplitudes, etc. Applying electromagnetic field intensities we construct a photon wave function, it corresponds to the (1,0)+(0,1) spinor representation of the electromagnetic field, and can be interpreted as the energy-density amplitude of photons outside a source. In terms of photon wave functions we develop photon wave…
Recent results suggest that quantum mechanical phenomena may be interpreted as a failure of standard probability theory and may be described by a Bayesian complex probability theory.
In this paper we develop a discussion about PT Symmetric Quantum Mechanics, working with basics elements of this theory. In a simple case of two body system, we developed the Quantum Brachistochrone problem. Comparing the results obtained through the PT Symmetric Quantum Mechanics with that ones obtained using the standard formalism, we conclude that this new approach is not able to reveal any new effect.
We suggest a general ansatz for the energy-eigenstates when a complex one-dimensional PT-symmetric potential possesses real discrete spectrum. Several interesting features of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics have been brought out using this ansatz.
The pure state space of Quantum Mechanics is investigated as Hermitian Symmetric Kaehler manifold. The classical principles of Quantum Mechanics (Quantum Superposition Principle, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, Quantum Probability Principle) and Spectral Theory of observables are discussed in this non linear geometrical context.
The physical condition that the expectation values of physical observables are real quantities is used to give a precise formulation of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. A mathematically rigorous proof is given to establish the physical equivalence of PT-symmetric and conventional quantum mechanics. The results reported in this paper apply to arbitrary PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with a real and discrete spectrum. They hold regardless of whether the boundary conditions defining the spectrum of the Hamiltonian are given on the real line or a complex contour.
Using the Nikiforov Uvarov method, we obtained the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Woods Saxon potential with the negative energy levels based on the mathematical approach. According to the PT Symmetric quantum mechanics, we exactly solved the time independent Shcrodinger equation for the same potential. Results are obtained for the s states.
In this article, we discussed certain properties of non-Hermitian $\CP$-symmetry Hamiltonian, and it is shown that a consistent physical theory of quantum mechanics can be built on a ${\cal C} \CP$-symmetry Hamiltonian. In particular, we show that these theories have unitary time evolution, and conservation probability. Furthermore, transition from quantum mechanics to classical mechanics is investigate and it is found that the Ehrenfest theorem is satisfied.
The recently proposed PT-symmetric quantum mechanics works with complex potentials which possess, roughly speaking, a symmetric real part and an anti-symmetric imaginary part. We propose and describe a new exactly solvable model of this type. It is defined as a specific analytic continuation of the shape-invariant potential of Morse. In contrast to the latter well-known example, all the new spectrum proves real, discrete and bounded below. All its three separate subsequences are quadratic in n.
Unitary evolution in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics with a time-dependent metric is found to yield a new class of adiabatic processes. As an explicit example, a Berry-like phase associated with a PT-symmetric two-level system is derived and interpreted as the flux of a fictitious monopole with a tunable charge plus a singular string component with non-trivial phase contributions. The Hermitian analog of our results is also discussed.
Supmech, an algebraic scheme of mechanics integrating noncommutative symplectic geometry and noncommutative probability, subsumes quantum and classical mechanics and permits consistent treatment of interaction of quantum and classical systems. Quantum measurements are treated in this framework; the von Neumann reduction rule (generally postulated) is derived and interpreted in physical terms.
In a recent paper (arXiv:1111.3328), Pusey, Barrett and Rudolph claim to prove that statistical interpretations of quantum mechanics do not work. In fact, their proof assumes that all statistical interpretations must be based on hidden variable realism. Effectively, the authors demand from the start that reality must be decided by mathematics, and not by measurements. If this unjustified assumption is dropped, the quantum formalism has a natural statistical interpretation that fully explains the paradox presented by the authors. It is therefore possible to conclude that the paradox actually su…
The supersymmetric solutions of PT-/non-PT-symmetric and non-Hermitian deformed Morse and Pöschl-Teller potentials are obtained by solving the Schrödinger equation. The Hamiltonian hierarchy method is used to get the real energy eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions. \newline {PACS:05.20.-y; 05.30.-d; 05.70. Ce; 03.65.-w}\newline {\it Keywords}{\small : Supersymmetric quantum mechanics, Hamiltonian Hierarchy Method, Morse potential, Pöschl-Teller potential}
A variational calculation of the energy levels of a class of PT-invariant quantum mechanical models described by the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H= p^2 - (ix)^N with N positive and x complex is presented. Excellent agreement is obtained for the ground state and low lying excited state energy levels and wave functions. We use an energy functional with a three parameter class of PT-symmetric trial wave functions in obtaining our results.
Time-dependent $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics is featured by a varying inner-product metric and has stimulated a number of interesting studies beyond conventional quantum mechanics. In this paper, we explore geometric aspects of time-dependent $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics. We not only find a geometric phase factor emerging naturally from cyclic evolutions of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems, but also formulate a series of differential geometry concepts, including connection, curvature, parallel transport, metric tensor, and quantum geometric tensor. Our findings const…
Within quantum mechanics which works with parity-pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians we study the tunneling in a symmetric double well formed by two delta functions with complex conjugate strengths. The model is exactly solvable and exhibits several interesting features. Besides an amazingly robust absence of any PT symmetry breaking, we observe a quasi-degeneracy of the levels which occurs all over the energy range including the high-energy domain. This pattern is interpreted as a manifestation of certain "quantum beats".
We show that and how the Coulomb potential can be regularized and solved exactly at the imaginary couplings. The new spectrum of energies is real and bounded as expected, but its explicit form proves totally different from the usual real-coupling case.
We first compare the mathematical structure of quantum and classical mechanics when both are formulated in a C*-algebraic framework. By using finite von Neumann algebras, a quantum mechanical analogue of Liouville's theorem is then proposed. We proceed to study Poincare recurrence in C*-algebras by mimicking the measure theoretic setting. The results are interpreted as recurrence in quantum mechanics, similar to Poincare recurrence in classical mechanics.
A general formalism is worked out for the description of one-dimensional scattering in non-hermitian quantum mechanics and constraints on transmission and reflection coefficients are derived in the cases of P, T, or PT invariance of the Hamiltonian. Applications to some solvable PT-symmetric potentials are shown in detail. Our main original results concern the association of reflectionless potentials with asymptotic exact PT symmetry and the peculiarities of separable kernels of non-local potentials in connection with hermiticity, T invariance and PT invariance.
In my talk I will present an overview of our recent work involving the use of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSY-QM). I begin by discussing the mathematical underpinnings of SUSY-QM and then discuss how we have used this for developing novel theoretical and numerical approaches suitable for studying molecular systems. I will conclude by discussing our attempt to extend SUSY-QM to multiple dimensions.
This paper presents a new Symmetrical Theory (ST) of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics which postulates: quantum mechanics is a theory about complete experiments, not particles; a complete experiment is maximally described by a complex transition amplitude density; and this transition amplitude density never collapses. This new ST is compared to the Conventional Theory (CT) of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics for the analysis of a beam-splitter experiment. The ST makes several experimentally testable predictions that differ from the CT, which can be checked using existing technology. The ST a…
Extended quantum mechanics using non-Hermitian, pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians is briefly reviewed. Supersymmetric regularizations, solvable simulations and large-N expansion techniques are recollected as suitable means for the study of non-local quasi-particles. Their many-particle or even, perhaps, unstable and decaying generalizations are also considered. Picking up the Klein-Gordon equation and its Feshbach-Villars' Hamiltonian for definiteness, we argue that the PT symmetry might help to clarify experimental aspects of relativistic quantum mechanics.
A new formulation of relativistic quantum mechanics is presented and applied to a free, massive, and spin zero elementary particle in the Minkowski spacetime. The reformulation requires that time and space, as well as the timelike and spacelike intervals, are treated equally, which makes the new theory fully symmetric and consistent with the Special Theory of Relativity. The theory correctly reproduces the classical action of a relativistic particle in the path integral formalism, and allows for the introduction of a new quantity called vector-mass, whose physical implications for nonlocality,…
A series of geometric concepts are formulated for $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics and they are further unified into one entity, i.e., an extended quantum geometric tensor (QGT). The imaginary part of the extended QGT gives a Berry curvature whereas the real part induces a metric tensor on system's parameter manifold. This results in a unified conceptual framework to understand and explore physical properties of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems from a geometric perspective. To illustrate the usefulness of the extended QGT, we show how its real part, i.e., the metric tensor, can be ex…
The parity-time-reversal- ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetric quantum mechanics (PTQM) has developed into a noteworthy area of research. However, to date most known studies of PTQM focused on the spectral properties of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian operators. In this work, we propose an axiom in PTQM in order to study general time-dependent problems in PTQM, e.g., those with a time-dependent $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonian and with a time-dependent metric. We illuminate our proposal by examining a proper mapping from a time-dependent Schrödinger-like equation of motion for PTQM to the familiar time-de…
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.
It has been shown that the predictions of some new phenomena (e.g., teleportation and cryptography) are based on some assumptions added to the quantum-mechanical model or modifying some of its basic axioms. The hitherto experiments presented as a support of the mentioned phenomena may be hardly regarded as sufficient, as they may be interpreted alternatively on the basis of simple interference processes.
We discuss the Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen paradox as it was formulated by Asher Peres in 1992 [4]. On this basis we realize an algebraic quantum like elaboration showing that in this formulation the paradox may be still interpreted and solved.
We investigate the possibility that the semiclassical limit of quantum mechanics might be correctly described by a classical dynamical theory, other than standard classical mechanics. Using a set of classicality criteria proposed in a related paper, we show that the time evolution of a set of quantum initial data satisfying these criteria is fully consistent with the predictions of a new theory of classical dynamics. The dynamical structure of the new theory is given by the Moyal bracket. This is a Lie bracket that was first derived as the dynamical structure of the Moyal-Weyl-Wigner formulati…
$\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics has been considered an important theoretical framework for understanding physical phenomena in $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems, with a number of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry related applications. This line of research was made possible by the introduction of a time-independent metric operator to redefine the inner product of a Hilbert space. To treat the dynamics of generic non-Hermitian systems under equal footing, we advocate in this work the use of a time-dependent metric operator for the inner-product between time-evolving states. This treatment makes…
We provide evidence that quantum mechanics can be interpreted as a rational algorithm for finding the least complex description for the correlations in the outputs of sensors in a large array. In particular, by comparing the self-organization approach to solving the Traveling Salesman Problem with a solution based on taking the classical limit of a Feynman path integral, we are led to a connection between the quantum mechanics of motion in a magnetic field and self-organized information fusion.
A qualification is suggested for the counterfactual reasoning involved in some aspects of time-symmetric quantum theory (which involves ensembles selected by both the initial and final states). The qualification is that the counterfactual reasoning should only apply to times when the quantum system has been subjected to physical interactions which place it in a ``measurement-ready condition" for the unperformed experiment on which the counterfactual reasoning is based. The defining characteristic of a "measurement-ready condition" is that a quantum system could be found to have the counterfact…
The structure of the energy levels in a deep triple well is analyzed using simple quantum mechanical considerations. The resultant spectra of the first three energy levels are found to be composed of a ground state localized at the central well and the two other states are distributed only among the left and right well in anti-symmetric and symmetric way respectively. Due to the tunneling effects the energy eigenvalue of the ground state is approximately equal to the ground state energy for a harmonic oscillator localized at the central well, while the two others are nearly degenerate with app…
We show that quantum mechanics predicts a contradiction with local hidden variable theories for photon number measurements which have limited resolving power, to the point of imposing an uncertainty in the photon number result which is macroscopic in absolute terms. We show how this can be interpreted as a failure of a new premise, macroscopic local realism.
One of the postulates of quantum mechanics is that the Hamiltonian is Hermitian, as this guarantees that the eigenvalues are real. Recently there has been an interest in asking if $H^\dagger = H$ is a necessary condition, and has lead to the development of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. This note shows that any finite physically acceptable non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is equivalent to doing ordinary quantum mechanics in a non-orthogonal basis. In particular, this means that there is no experimental distinction between PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and ordinary quantum mechanics for finite syste…
A necessary and natural change in our application of quantum mechanics to separated systems is shown to reconcile quantum mechanics and local realism. An analysis of separation and localization justifies the proposed change in application of quantum mechanics. An important EPRB experiment is reconsidered and it is seen that when it is correctly interpreted it supports local realism. This reconciliation of quantum mechanics with local realism allows the axiom sets of quantum mechanics, probability, and special relativity to be joined in a consistent global axiom set for physics.
We propose a model CCS (complex-conjugate-space) to understand the inner and outer product nature of wave functions in non-hermitian PT-symmetry model in quantum mechanics considering (NxN) matrix model. Further we reflect the correct nature of C-symmetry ,P-parity and original Hamiltonian matrix for any arbitrary values of N. Interestingly the present result on N=2 , remains the same reported earlier by Bender,Brody and Jones model PT-symmetry operator. In non-conventional way one can notice that wave functions in a PT-symmetry model satisfies similar relations as in hermitian operator .
For the symmetric harmonic oscillator and the symmetric bouncer defined in 2-D, two different Hamiltonian are given describing the same classical dynamics; however, their quantum dynamics behavior are different.
Although nondemolition, reliable, and instantaneous quantum measurements of some nonlocal variables are impossible, demolition reliable instantaneous measurements are possible for all variables. It is shown that this is correct also in the framework of the time-symmetric quantum formalism, i.e. nonlocal variables of composite quantum systems with quantum states evolving both forward and backward in time are measurable in a demolition way. The result follows from the possibility to reverse with certainty the time direction of a backward evolving quantum state. Demolition measurements of nonloca…
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 Hilbert space in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics is formulated as a linear vector space with a dynamic inner product. The most general PT-symmetric matrix Hamiltonians are constructed for 2*2 and 3*3 cases. In the former case, the PT-symmetric Hamiltonian represents the most general matrix Hamiltonian with a real spectrum. In both cases, Hermitian matrices are shown to be special cases of PT-symmetric matrices. This finding confirms and strengthens the early belief that the PT-symmetric quantum mechanics is a generalization of the conventional Hermitian quantum mechanics.
Time-symmetric interpretations of quantum theory are often presented as featuring "retrocausal" effects in addition to the usual forward notion of causation. This paper examines the ontological implications of certain timesymmetric theories, and finds that no dynamical notion of causation applies to them, either forward or backward. It is concluded that such theories actually describe a static picture, in which the notion of causation is relegated to a descriptor of static relationships among events. In addition, these theories lead to an epistemic rather than ontologically referring, realist …
In the information interpretation of quantum mechanics, information is the most fundamental, basic entity. Every quantized system is associated with a definite discrete amount of information (cf. Zeilinger). This information content remains constant at all times and is permutated one-to-one throughout the system evolution. What is interpreted as measurement is a particular type of information transfer over a fictitious interface. The concept of a many-to-one state reduction is not a fundamental one but results from the practical impossibility to reconstruct the original state after the measure…
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.
In this paper, we discuss time evolution and adiabatic approximation in $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics. we give the time evolving equation for a class of $PT$-symmetric Hamiltonians and some conditions of the adiabatic approximation for the class of $PT$-symmetric Hamiltonians.
For one-dimensional PT -symmetric systems, it is observed that the non-local product obtained from the continuity equation can be interpreted as a conserved corre- lation function. This leads to physical conclusions, regarding both discrete and continuum states of such systems. Asymptotic states are shown to have necessarily broken PT -symmetry, leading to modified scattering and transfer matrices. This yields restricted boundary conditions, e.g., in- cidence from both sides, analogous to that of the proposed PT CPA laser. The interpretation of left and right states leads to a Hermitian S-matr…
Critical reexamination of a recent challenge to Bohmian mechanics
Univ Rennes, CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes) - UMR 6251（雷恩大学，法国国家科学研究中心，雷恩物理研究所）；National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory（美国国家同步光源二号，布鲁克海文国家实验室）
The Einstein's Boxes paradox was developed by Einstein, de Broglie, Heisenberg, and others to demonstrate the incompleteness of the Copenhagen Formulation of quantum mechanics. I explain the paradox using the Copenhagen Formulation.~I then show how a time-symmetric formulation of quantum mechanics resolves the paradox in the way envisioned by Einstein and de Broglie. Finally, I describe an experiment that can distinguish between these two formulations.
Recent extended formulations of the Wigner's friend thought experiment throw the measurement problem of quantum mechanics into sharper relief. Here I respond to an invitation by Renner to provide a consistent and concrete set of rules for quantum mechanics which can avoid the apparent paradox formulated by Frauchiger and Renner [Nat. Comm. 9, 3711 (2018)]. I propose a slight addition to standard textbook quantum mechanics, in the form of two rules, which avoids the paradox. The first specifies when a given quantum dynamics can be interpreted as a measurement. Potentially any dynamics can, but …
We derive for Bohmian mechanics topological factors for quantum systems with a multiply-connected configuration space Q. These include nonabelian factors corresponding to what we call holonomy-twisted representations of the fundamental group of Q. We employ wave functions on the universal covering space of Q. As a byproduct of our analysis, we obtain an explanation, within the framework of Bohmian mechanics, of the fact that the wave function of a system of identical particles is either symmetric or anti-symmetric.
A so called 'weak value' of an observable in quantum mechanics (QM) may be obtained in a weak measurement + post-selection procedure on the QM system under study. Applied to number operators, it has been invoked in revisiting some QM paradoxes (e.g., the so called Three Box paradox and Hardy s paradox). This requires the weak value to be interpreted as a bona fide property of the system considered, a par with entities like operator mean values and eigenvalues. I question such an interpretation; it has no support in the basic axioms of quantum mechanics and it leads to unreasonable results in c…
The purpose of this paper is the discussion of a pair of coupled linear oscillators that has recently been proposed as a model of a system of two optical resonators. By means of an algebraic approach we show that the frequencies of the classical and quantum-mechanical interpretations of the optical phenomenon are exactly the same. Consequently, if the classical frequencies are real, then the quantum-mechanical eigenvalues are also real.
The Kochen-Specker Theorem is widely interpreted to imply that non-contextual hidden variable theories that agree with the predictions of Copenhagen quantum mechanics are impossible. The import of the theorem for a novel observer independent interpretation of quantum mechanics, due to Sorkin, is investigated.
We extend the application of the techniques developed within the framework of the pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics to study a unitary quantum system described by an imaginary PT-symmetric potential v(x) having a continuous real spectrum. For this potential that has recently been used, in the context of optical potentials, for modelling the propagation of electromagnetic waves travelling in a wave guide half and half filed with gain and absorbing media, we give a perturbative construction of the physical Hilbert space, observables, localized states, and the equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian. I…
A long sequence of tosses of a classical coin produces an apparently random bit string, but classical randomness is an illusion: the algorithmic information content of a classically-generated bit string lies almost entirely in the description of initial conditions. This letter presents a simple argument that, by contrast, a sequence of bits produced by tossing a quantum coin is, almost certainly, genuinely (algorithmically) random. This result can be interpreted as a strengthening of Bell's no-hidden-variables theorem, and relies on causality and quantum entanglement in a manner similar to Bel…
In this paper we address the problem to give a concrete support to the idea, originally stemming from Niels Bohr, that quantum mechanics must be rooted inside the physics of macroscopic systems. It is shown that, starting from the formalism of the non-equilibrium statistical operator, which is now a consolidated part of quantum statistical mechanics, particular correlations between two isolated systems can be singled out and interpreted as microsystems. In this way also a new framework is established in which questions of decoherence can be naturally addressed.
The support of Copenhagen quantum mechanics in the discussion concerning EPR experiments has been based fundamentally on two mistakes. First, quantum mechanics as well as hidden-variable theory give the same predictions; the statement of Belinfante from 1973 about the significant difference must be denoted as mistake. Secondly, the experimental violation of Bell's inequalities has been erroneously interpreted as excluding the hidden-variable alternative, while they have been based on assumption corresponding to classical physics. The EPR experiments cannot bring, therefore, any decision in the…
