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, it is possible to construct a previously unnoticed physical symmetry C of the Hamiltonian. Using C, an inner product is constructed whose associated norm is positive definite. This construction is completely general and works for any PT-symmetric Hamiltonian. Observables exhibit CPT symmetry, and the dynamics is governed by unitary time evolution. This work is not in conflict with conventional quantum mechanics but is rather a complex generalisation of it.
For the example of the infinitely deep well potential, we point out some paradoxes which are solved by a careful analysis of what is a truly self-adjoint operator. We then describe the self-adjoint extensions and their spectra for the momentum and the Hamiltonian operators in different physical situations. Some consequences are worked out, which could lead to experimental checks.
I review the formalism of classical extensions of quantum mechanics introduced by Beltrametti and Bugajski, and compare it to the classical representations discussed e.g. by Busch, Hellwig and Stulpe and recently used by Fuchs in his discussion of quantum mechanics in terms of standard quantum measurements. I treat the problem of finding Bayesian analogues of the state transition associated with measurement in the canonical classical extension as well as in the related 'uniform' classical representation. In the classical extension, the analogy is extremely good.
Where does quantum mechanics part ways with classical mechanics? How does quantum randomness differ fundamentally from classical randomness? We cannot fully explain how the theories differ until we can derive them within a single axiomatic framework, allowing an unambiguous account of how one theory is the limit of the other. Here we derive nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and classical statistical mechanics within a common framework. The common axioms include conservation of average energy and conservation of probability current. But two axioms distinguish quantum mechanics from classical st…
We show that quantum mechanics can be given a Lorentz-invariant realistic interpretation by applying our recently proposed relativistic extension of the de Broglie-Bohm theory to deduce non-locally correlated, Lorentz-invariant individual particle motions for the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment and the double-interferometer experiment proposed by Horne, Shimony and Zeilinger.
To find the Hermitian phase operatorof a single-mode electromagnetic field in quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger representation is extended to a larger Hilbert space augmented by states with infinite excitation by nonstandard analysis. The Hermitian phase operator is shown to exist on the extended Hilbert space. This operator is naturally considered as the controversial limit of the approximate phase operators on finite dimensional spaces proposed by Pegg and Barnett. The spectral measure of this operator is a Naimark extension of the optimal probability operator-valued measure for the phase …
In this article, we review the general quantum mechanical setting associated to a non self-adjoint Hamiltonian with real spectrum. Spectral properties of the Hamiltonian of a simple model of the Swanson type are investigated. The eigenfunctions associated to the real simple eigenvalues are shown to form complete systems but not a (Riesz) basis, which gives rise to difficulties in the rigorous mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. A new inner product, which is appropriate for the physical interpretation of the model, has been consistently introduced. The dynamics of the system is descr…
We consider the self-adjoint extensions (SAE) of the symmetric supercharges and Hamiltonian for a model of SUSY Quantum Mechanics in $\mathbb{R}^+$ with a singular superpotential. We show that only for two particular SAE, whose domains are scale invariant, the algebra of N=2 SUSY is realized, one with manifest SUSY and the other with spontaneously broken SUSY. Otherwise, only the N=1 SUSY algebra is obtained, with spontaneously broken SUSY and non degenerate energy spectrum.
We consider the Dirac equation in 1+1 space-time dimension with vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar coupling. In the traditional spin (or pseudo-spin) symmetry, the difference between (or sum of) the scalar and vector potentials is a constant. Here, however, we introduce an alternative symmetry where the scalar or pseudo-scalar potential is proportional to the vector potential. This leads to a model with significant extensions to supersymmetric quantum mechanics. We present a formal solution of the problem but give explicit analytic results for specific examples.
A theoretical scheme, based on a probabilistic generalization of the Hamilton's principle, is elaborated to obtain an unified description of more general dynamical behaviors determined both from a lagrangian function and by mechanisms not contemplated by this function. Within this scheme, quantum mechanics, classical field theory and a quantum theory for scalar fields are discussed. As a by-product of the probabilistic scheme for classical field theory, the equations of the De Donder-Weyl theory for multi-dimensional variational problems are recovered.
Karl Popper proposed a way to test whether a proposed relation of a quantum-mechanical state to perceived reality in the Copenhagen interpretation (CI) of quantum mechanics - namely that the state of a particle is merely an expression of ``what is known'' about the system - is in agreement with all experimental facts. A conceptual flaw in Popper's proposal is identified and an improved version of his experiment (called ``Extension step 1'') - which fully serves its original purpose - is suggested. The main purpose of this paper is to suggest to perform this experiment. The results of this expe…
Simulations of the observed transition rate (decay rate) versus time for excited-state decay in Everett's relative-state formulation of quantum mechanics and DeWitt-like extension of Everett's formulation are described. It is shown that Everett's formalism is not general enough to describe excited-state decay, and that tritium lifetime measurements rule out all plausible DeWitt-like extensions. Furthermore, comparison of lifetime measurements and first-principles calculations of excited electronic states of simple atoms limit Everett-like extensions to a small effect for these atoms.
PT-symmetric quantum mechanics, the extension of conventional quantum mechanics to the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian invariant under the combined parity (P) and time reversal (T) symmetry, has been successfully applied to a variety of fields such as solid state physics, mathematical physics, optics, quantum field theory. Recently, the extension of PT-symmetrical theory to entangled quantum systems was challenged in that PT formulation within the conventional Hilbert space violates the no-signaling principle. Here, we revisit the derivation of non-signaling principle in the framework of PT inner pr…
Three extensions and reinterpretations of nonclassical probabilities are reviewed. (i) We propose to generalize the probability axiom of quantum mechanics to self-adjoint positive operators of trace one. Furthermore, we discuss the Cartesian and polar decomposition of arbitrary normal operators and the possibility to operationalize the corresponding observables. Thereby we review and emphasize the use of observables which maximally represent the context. (ii) In the second part, we discuss Pitowsky polytopes for automaton logic as well as for generalized urn models and evaluate methods to find…
In their Erratum [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 119902 (2004), quant-ph/0208076], written in reaction to [quant-ph/0310164], Bender, Brody and Jones propose a revised definition for a physical observable in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. We show that although this definition avoids the dynamical inconsistency revealed in quant-ph/0310164, it is still not a physically viable definition. In particular, we point out that a general proof that this definition is consistent with the requirements of the quantum measurement theory is lacking, give such a proof for a class of PT-symmetric systems by esta…
Alternative partial Boolean structures, implicit in the discussion of classical representability of sets of quantum mechanical predictions, are characterized, with definite general conclusions on the equivalence of the approaches going back to Bell and Kochen-Specker. An algebraic approach is presented, allowing for a discussion of partial classical extension, amounting to reduction of the number of contexts, classical representability arising as a special case. As a result, known techniques are generalized and some of the associated computational difficulties overcome. The implications on the…
We study the physical content of the PT-symmetric complex extension of quantum mechanics as proposed in Bender et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5243 (1998) and 89, 270401 (2002), and show that as a fundamental probabilistic physical theory it is neither an alternative to nor an extension of ordinary quantum mechanics. We demonstrate that the definition of a physical observable given in the above papers is inconsistent with the dynamical aspect of the theory and offer a consistent notion of an observable.
Starting from the Hamilton-Jacobi equation describing a classical ensemble, one may infer a quantum dynamics using the principle of maximum uncertainty. That procedure requires an appropriate measure of uncertainty: Such a measure is constructed here from physically motivated constraints. It leads to a unique single parameter extension of the classical dynamics that is equivalent to the usual linear quantum mechanics.
The hydrogen atom is investigated, within a pseudo-complex extension of the coordinates and momenta, which introduces a minimal length scale (l) and results into a non-commutative Quantum Mechanics. After resuming the pseudo-complex extension of Quantum Mechanics, the modified energies of the hydrogen atom are deduced, producing corrections of the order of the square of the minimal length scale. Using the Lamb Shift, we obtain an upper boundary for the minimal length scale l, orders of magnitude more restrictive than former estimations.
We explore the group theoretical underpinning of noncommutative quantum mechanics for a system moving on the two-dimensional plane. We show that the pertinent groups for the system are the two-fold central extension of the Galilei group in $(2+1)$-space-time dimensions and the two-fold extension of the group of translations of $\mathbb R^4$. This latter group is just the standard Weyl-Heisenberg group of standard quantum mechanics with an additional central extension. We also look at a further extension of this group and discuss its significance to noncommutative quantum mechanics. We build un…
We revisit Ozawa's uncertainty principle (OUP) in the framework of noncommutative (NC) quantum mechanics. We derive a matrix version of OUP accommodating any NC structure in the phase-space, and compute NC corrections to lowest order for two measurement interactions, namely the Backaction Evading Quadrature Amplifier and Noiseless Quadrature Transducers. These NC corrections alter the nature of the measurement interaction, as a noiseless interaction may acquire noise, and an interaction of independent intervention may become dependent of the object system. However the most striking result is t…
On 14 December 1900 Max Planck first formulated the idea of energy quanta related to a new universal constant now known as Planck's constant. Despite the following progress of thus initiated "quantum mechanics", the physical origin of both quantization and universality of Planck's constant remains mysterious, as well as other "peculiar" properties of quantum dynamics. In this paper we review a recent causal extension of quantum mechanics consistently explaining all its "mysteries" by irreducibly complex, "dynamically multivalued" behaviour of the underlying system of two interacting protofield…
While real Hamiltonian mechanics and Hermitian quantum mechanics can both be cast in the framework of complex canonical equations, their complex generalisations have hitherto been remained tangential. In this paper quaternionic and coquaternionic (split-signature analogue of quaternions) extensions of Hamiltonian mechanics are introduced, and are shown to offer a unifying framework for complexified classical and quantum mechanics. In particular, quantum theories characterised by complex Hamiltonians invariant under space-time reflection are shown to be equivalent to certain coquaternionic exte…
We present a set of inequalities based on mean values of quantum mechanical observables nonlinear entanglement witnesses for bipartite quantum systems. These inequalities give rise to sufficient and necessary conditions for separability of all bipartite pure states and even some mixed states. In terms of these mean values of quantum mechanical observables a measurable lower bound of the convex-roof extension of the negativity is derived.
The idea of equivalence of the free electromagnetic phase and quantum-mechanical one is investigated in an attempt to seek modifications of Schrödinger's equation that could realize it. It is assumed that physically valid realizations are compatibile with the U(1)-gauge and Galilean invariance. It is shown that such extensions of the Schrödinger equation do not exist, which also means that despite their apparent similarity the quantum-mechanical phase is essentially different from the electromagnetic one.
Modal interpretations of quantum mechanics assign definite properties to physical systems and specify single-time joint probabilities of these properties. We show that a natural extension, applying to properties at several times, can be given if a decoherence condition is satisfied. This extension defines "consistent histories" of modal properties. We suggest a new form of the modal scheme, that offers prospects of a more general applicability of the histories concept. Finally, we discuss a possible way of applying these ideas to relativistic quantum field theory.
On the basis of a suggestive definition of a classical extension of quantum mechanics in terms of statistical models, we prove that every such classical extension is essentially given by the so-called Misra-Bugajski reduction map. We consider how this map enables one to understand quantum mechanics as a reduced classical statistical theory on the projective Hilbert space as phase space and discuss features of the induced hidden-variables model. Moreover, some relevant technical results on the topology and Borel structure of the projective Hilbert space are reviewed.
An extension of the Liouville-von Neumann dynamics to a Nambu-type dynamics is proposed. The resulting theory is the first version of nonlinear QM which is free from internal inconsistencies.
In this paper, we present a mathematically rigorous quantum-mechanical treatment of a one-dimensional motion of a particle in the Calogero potential $αx^{-2}$. Although the problem is quite old and well-studied, we believe that our consideration, based on a uniform approach to constructing a correct quantum-mechanical description for systems with singular potentials and/or boundaries, proposed in our previous works, adds some new points to its solution. To demonstrate that a consideration of the Calogero problem requires mathematical accuracy, we discuss some "paradoxes" inherent in the "naive…
An extension of the classical action principle obtained in the framework of the gauge transformations, is used to describe the motion of a particle. This extension assigns many, but not all, paths to a particle. Properties of the particle paths are shown to impart wave like behaviour to a particle in motion and to imply various other assumptions and conjectures attributed to the formalism of Quantum Mechanics. The Klein-Gordon and other similar equations are derived by incorporating these properties in the path-integral formalism.
In quantum theory we refer to the probability of finding a particle between positions $x$ and $x+dx$ at the instant $t$, although we have no capacity of predicting exactly when the detection occurs. In this work, first we present an extended non-relativistic quantum formalism where space and time play equivalent roles. It leads to the probability of finding a particle between $x$ and $x+dx$ during [$t$,$t+dt$]. Then, we find a Schrödinger-like equation for a "mirror" wave function $ϕ(t,x)$ associated with the probability of measuring the system between $t$ and $t+dt$, given that detection occu…
There exist several graphical languages for quantum information processing, like quantum circuits, ZX-Calculus, ZW-Calculus, etc. Each of these languages forms a dagger-symmetric monoidal category (dagger-SMC) and comes with an interpretation functor to the dagger-SMC of (finite dimension) Hilbert spaces. In the recent years, one of the main achievements of the categorical approach to quantum mechanics has been to provide several equational theories for most of these graphical languages, making them complete for various fragments of pure quantum mechanics. We address the question of the extens…
In this paper, we construct isospectral Hamiltonians without shape invariant potentials for the relativistic quantum mechanical potentials such as the Dirac Oscillator and Hydrogen-like atom.
We study the spectrum generating closed nonlinear superconformal algebra that describes $\mathcal{N}=2$ super-extensions of rationally deformed quantum harmonic oscillator and conformal mechanics models with coupling constant $g=m(m+1)$, $m\in {\mathbb N}$. It has a nature of a nonlinear finite $W$ superalgebra being generated by higher derivative integrals, and generally contains several different copies of either deformed superconformal $\mathfrak{osp}(2|2)$ algebra in the case of super-extended rationally deformed conformal mechanics models, or deformed super-Schrodinger algebra in the case…
We propose an extended quantum theory, in which the number K of parameters necessary to characterize a quantum state behaves as fourth power of the number N of distinguishable states. As the simplex of classical N-point probability distributions can be embedded inside a higher dimensional convex body of mixed quantum states, one can further increase the dimensionality constructing the set of extended quantum states. The embedding proposed corresponds to an assumption that the physical system described in N dimensional Hilbert space is coupled with an auxiliary subsystem of the same dimensional…
I am concerned with two views of quantum mechanics that John S. Bell called ``unromantic'': spontaneous wave function collapse and Bohmian mechanics. I discuss some of their merits and report about recent progress concerning extensions to quantum field theory and relativity. In the last section, I speculate about an extension of Bohmian mechanics to quantum gravity.
A new kind of gauge theory is introduced, where the minimal coupling and corresponding covariant derivatives are defined in the space of functions pertaining to the functional Schroedinger picture of a given field theory. While, for simplicity, we study the example of a U(1) symmetry, this kind of gauge theory can accommodate other symmetries as well. We consider the resulting relativistic nonlinear extension of quantum mechanics and show that it incorporates gravity in the (0+1)-dimensional limit, similar to recently studied Schroedinger-Newton equations. Gravity is encoded here into a univer…
Discussions about whether quantum theory is determinism or indeterminism has lasted for a century. A new approach to standard quantum mechanics called many-interacting-worlds method based on many-worlds interpretation and de Broglie-Bohm mechanics provided the possibility to demonstrate probability from deterministic universe.The many-interacting-worlds method has been proved successful in the ground state of harmonic oscillator. In this article we extend this method to one dimensional Coulomb potential and construct a corresponding empirical density function. We also provide a theoretical pro…
Quantum Mechanics is a good example of a successful theory. Most of atomic phenomena are described well by quantum mechanics and cases such as Lamb Shift that are not described by quantum mechanics, are described by quantum electrodynamics. Of course, at the nuclear level, because of some complications, it is not clear that we can claim the same confidence. One way of taking these complications and corrections into account seems to be a modification of the standard quantum theory. In this paper and its follow ups we consider a straightforward way of extending quantum theory. Our method is base…
We argue that the demand of background independence in a quantum theory of gravity calls for an extension of standard geometric quantum mechanics. We discuss a possible kinematical and dynamical generalization of the latter by way of a quantum covariance of the state space. Specifically, we apply our scheme to the problem of a background independent formulation of Matrix Theory.
The extension of Standard Model of the Fundamental Particles which consider the Lorentz Symmetry Violation governed by a background tensor field presented by Colladay and Kostelecky consider the hypothesis of having a privileged direction in the space-time. Here we investigated a extension of the Schrödinger Equation inspired on that model taking into account a background scalar field. We analyze the behavior of this modified Schrödinger equation on a particle trapped in a well and quantum harmonic oscillator.
The complementarity between signaling and randomness in any communicated resource that can simulate singlet statistics is generalized by relaxing the assumption of free will in the choice of measurement settings. We show how to construct an ontological extension for quantum mechanics (QM) through the oblivious embedding of a sound simulation protocol in a Newtonian spacetime. Minkowski or other intermediate spacetimes are ruled out as the locus of the embedding by virtue of hidden influence inequalities. The complementarity transferred from a simulation to the extension unifies a number of res…
The detailed study of a quantum free particle on a pointed plane is performed. It is shown that there is no problem with a mysterious ``quantum anticentrifugal force" acting on a free particle on a plane discussed in a very recent paper: M. A. Cirone et al, Phys. Rev. A 65, 022101 (2002), but we deal with a purely topological efect related to distinguishing a point on a plane. The new results are introduced concerning self-adjoint extensions of operators describing the free particle on a pointed plane as well as the role played by discrete symmetries in the analysis of such extensions.
A review of "Bohmian Mechanics and Quantum Theory: An Appraisal" (James Cushing, Arthur Fine and Sheldon Goldstein, Eds.), an extensive collection of articles on Bohmian mechanics. In addition to broad, critical overviews of Bohmian mechanics, the reviewed collection contains extensions and hybrid versions of the theory and several detailed applications to practical situtations.
Yes, there is. - A new kind of gauge theory is introduced, where the minimal coupling and corresponding covariant derivatives are defined in the space of functions pertaining to the functional Schroedinger picture of a given field theory. While, for simplicity, we study the example of an U(1) symmetry, this kind of gauge theory can accommodate other symmetries as well. We consider the resulting relativistic nonlinear extension of quantum mechanics and show that it incorporates gravity in the (0+1)-dimensional limit, where it leads to the Schroedinger-Newton equations. Gravity is encoded here i…
We propose an extension of Quantum Mechanics based on the idea that the underlying "quantum noise" has a non-zero, albeit very small, correlation time $τ_c$. The standard (non-relativistic) Schrodinger equation is recovered to zeroth order in $τ_c$, and the first correction to energy levels is computed. Some consequences are discussed, in particular the violation of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the restoration of locality at short times.
In this paper we show that, via an extension of time, some metric structures naturally appear in both classical and quantum mechanics when both are formulated via path integrals. We calculate the various Ricci scalar and curvatures associated to these metrics and prove that they can be choosen to be zero in classical mechanics while this is not possible in quantum mechanics.
The use of fractional momentum operators and fractionary kinetic energy used to model linear damping in dissipative systems such as resistive circuits and a spring-mass ensambles was extended to a quantum mechanical formalism. Three important associated 1 dimensional problems were solved: the free particle case, the infinite potential well, and the harmonic potential. The wave equations generated reproduced the same type of 2-order ODE observed in classical dissipative systems, and produced quantized energy levels. In the infinite potential well, a zero-point energy emerges, which can be fitte…
The most well-known tool for studying contextuality in quantum computation is the n-qubit stabilizer state tableau representation. We provide an extension that describes not only the quantum state, but is also outcome deterministic. The extension enables a value assignment to exponentially many Pauli observables, yet remains quadratic in both memory and computational complexity. Furthermore, we show that the mechanisms employed for contextuality and measurement disturbance are wholly separate. The model will be useful for investigating the role of contextuality in $n$-qubit quantum computation…
A Lie algebraic approach to the unitary transformations in Weyl quantization is discussed. This approach, being formally equivalent to the $\star$-quantization, is an extension of the classical Poisson-Lie formalism which can be used as an efficient tool in the quantum phase space transformation theory.
