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 $P$-pseudoantiunitary symmetries. Finally, a physical example is considered and some hints on the $P$-unitary evolution of a physical system are also given.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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…
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.
We formulate a systematic algorithm for constructing a whole class of Hermitian position-dependent-mass Hamiltonians which, to lowest order of perturbation theory, allow a description in terms of PT-symmetric Hamiltonians. The method is applied to the Hermitian analogue of the PT-symmetric cubic anharmonic oscillator. A new example is provided by a Hamiltonian (approximately) equivalent to a PT-symmetric extension of the one-parameter trigonometric Poschl-Teller potential.
Quantum sensing exploits fundamental features of quantum system to achieve highly efficient measurement of physical quantities. Here, we propose a strategy to realize a single-qubit pseudo-Hermitian sensor from a dilated two-qubit Hermitian system. The pseudo-Hermitian sensor exhibits divergent susceptibility in dynamical evolution that does not necessarily involve exceptional point. We demonstrate its potential advantages to overcome noises that cannot be averaged out by repetitive measurements. The proposal is feasible with the state-of-art experimental capability in a variety of qubit syste…
A class of non-Hermitian d-dimensional Hamiltonias with position dependent mass and their $η$-pseudo-Hermiticity generators is presented. Illustrative examples are given in 1D, 2D, and 3D for different position dependent mass settings.
We give an explicit characterization of the most general quasi-Hermitian operator H, the associated metric operators η_+, and η_+-pseudo-Hermitian operators acting in two-dimensional complex Euclidean space C^2. These operators represent the physical observables of a model whose Hamiltonian and Hilbert space are respectively H and C^2 endowed with the inner product defined by η_+. Our calculations allows for a direct demonstration of the fact that the choice of an irreducible family of observables fixes the metric operator up to a multiplicative factor.
We investigate in this paper time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, which consist respectively of SU(1,1) and SU(2) generators. The former Hamiltonian is PT symmetric but the latter one is not. A time-dependent non-unitary operator is proposed to construct the non-Hermitian invariant, which is verified as pseudo-Hermitian with real eigenvalues. The exact solutions are obtained in terms of the eigenstates of the pseudo-Hermitian invariant operator for both the SU(1,1)and SU(2)systems in a unified manner. Then, we derive the LR phase, which can be separated to the dynamic phase and the geome…
Recently some authors have broadened the scope of canonical quantum mechanics by replacing the conventional Hermiticity condition on the Hamiltonian by a weaker requirement through the introduction of the notion of pseudo-Hermiticity. In the present study we investigate eigenvalues, transmission and reflection from complex optical potentials enjoying the property of pseudo-Hermiticity.
We prove that any symmetric Hamiltonian that is a quadratic function of the coordinates and momenta has a pseudo-Hermitian adjoint or regular matrix representation. The eigenvalues of the latter matrix are the natural frequencies of the Hamiltonian operator. When all the eigenvalues of the matrix are real, then the spectrum of the symmetric Hamiltonian is real and the operator is Hermitian. As illustrative examples we choose the quadratic Hamiltonians that model a pair of coupled resonators with balanced gain and loss, the electromagnetic self-force on an oscillating charged particle and an ac…
In study of pseudo(quasi)-hermitian operators, the key role is played by the positive-definite metric operator. It enables physical interpretation of the considered systems. In the article, we study the pseudo-hermitian systems with constant number of particles in equilibrium. We show that the explicit knowledge of the metric operator is not essential for study of thermodynamic properties of the system. We introduce a simple example where the physically relevant quantities are derived without explicit calculation of either metric operator or spectrum of the Hamiltonian.
In a recent paper (arXiv:1905.07348v1), Dyson scheme to deal with density matrix of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians has been used to investigate the entanglement of states of a PT-symmetric bosonic system. They found that von Neumann entropy can show a different behavior in the broken and unbroken regime. We show that their results can be recast in terms of an abstract model of pseudo-Hermitian random matrices. It is found however that, although the formalism is practically the same, the entanglement is not of Fock states but of Bell states.
We present a brief review of physical problems leading to indefinite Hilbert spaces and non-hermitian Hamiltonians. With the exception of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds in GR, the problem of a consistent physical interpretation of these structures still waits to be faced. In print in Rev. Mex. Fis.
The concept of energy-dependent forces in quantum mechanics is re-analysed. We suggest a simplification of their study via the representation of each self-adjoint and energy-dependent Hamiltonian H=H(E) with real spectrum by an auxiliary non-Hermitian operator K which remains energy-independent. Practical merits of such an approach to the Schroedinger equations with energy-dependent potentials are illustrated using their quasi-exactly solvable example.
In the context of two particularly interesting non-Hermitian models in quantum mechanics we explore the relationship between the original Hamiltonian H and its Hermitian counterpart h, obtained from H by a similarity transformation, as pointed out by Mostafazadeh. In the first model, due to Swanson, h turns out to be just a scaled harmonic oscillator, which explains the form of its spectrum. However, the transformation is not unique, which also means that the observables of the original theory are not uniquely determined by H alone. The second model we consider is the original PT-invariant Ham…
We study Hamiltonian systems with point interactions and give a systematic description of the corresponding boundary conditions and the spectrum properties for self-adjoint, PT-symmetric systems and systems with real spectra. The integrability of one dimensional many body systems with these kinds of point (contact) interactions are investigated for both bosonic and fermionic statistics.
We define pseudo-reality and pseudo-adjointness of a Hamiltonian, $H$, as $ρH ρ^{-1}=H^\ast$ and $μH μ^{-1}=H^\prime$, respectively. We prove that the former yields the {\it necessary} condition for spectrum to be real whereas the latter helps in fixing a definition for inner-product of the eigenstates. Here we separate out adjointness of an operator from its Hermitian-adjointness. It turns out that a Hamiltonian possessing real spectrum is first pseudo-real, further it could be Hermitian, PT-symmetric or pseudo-Hermitian.
Complex extension of quantum mechanics and the discovery of pseudo-unitarily invariant random matrix theory has set the stage for a number of applications of these concepts in physics. We briefly review the basic ideas and present applications to problems in statistical mechanics where new results have become possible. We have found it important to mention the precise directions where advances could be made if further results become available.
Exact solvability of some non-Hermitian $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians is explored as a byproduct of $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermiticity generators. A class of V_{eff}(x)=V(x)+iW(x) potentials is considered, where the imaginary part W(x) is used as an $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermiticity generator to obtain exactly solvable $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian models.
An unusual type of the exact solvability is reported. It is exemplified by the Coulomb plus harmonic oscillator in D dimensions after a complexification of its Hamiltonian which keeps the energies real. Infinitely many bound states are found in closed form which generalizes the even-parity harmonic-oscillator states at zero charge. Apparently, the model is halfway between exact and quasi-exact.
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 consider a couple of examples to study the pseudo-Hermitian interaction in relativistic quantum mechanics. Rasbha interaction, commonly used to study the spin Hall effect, is considered with imaginary coupling. The corresponding Dirac Hamiltonian is shown to be parity pseudo-Hermitian. In the other example we consider parity pseudo-Hermitian scalar interaction with arbitrary parameter in Dirac theory. In both the cases we show that the energy spectrum is real and all the other features of non-relativistic pseudo-Hermitian formulation are present. Using the spectral method the positive defin…
We have studied a three-level Λ-type atomic system with all the energy levels exhibiting decay. The system is described by a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian and subject to certain conditions, the Hamiltonian shows parity-time (PT) symmetry. The probability amplitudes of various atomic levels both below and above the PT-theshold is worked out.
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.
We consider a spin half particle in the external magnetic field which couples to a harmonic oscillator through some pseudo-hermitian interaction. We find that the energy eigenvalues for this system are real even though the interaction is not PT invariant.
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…
To develop a unitary quantum theory with probabilistic description for pseudo- Hermitian systems one needs to consider the theories in a different Hilbert space endowed with a positive definite metric operator. There are different approaches to find such metric operators. We compare the different approaches of calculating pos- itive definite metric operators in pseudo-Hermitian theories with the help of several explicit examples in non-relativistic as well as in relativistic situations. Exceptional points and spontaneous symmetry breaking are also discussed in these models.
Among non-Hermitian systems, pseudo-Hermitian phases represent a special class of physical models characterized by real energy spectra and by the absence of non-Hermitian skin effects. Here, we show that several pseudo-Hermitian phases in two and three dimensions can be built by employing $q$-deformed matrices, which are related to the representation of deformed algebras. Through this algebraic approach we present and study the pseudo-Hermitian version of well known Hermitian topological phases, raging from two-dimensional Chern insulators and time-reversal-invariant topological insulators to …
We show that degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in nonlinear optics can be described by an effective Hamiltonian that is pseudo-Hermitian, which enables a transition between a pseudo-Hermitian phase with real eigenvalues and a broken pseudo-Hermitian phase with complex conjugate eigenvalues. While bearing certain similarity to that in Parity-Time symmetric systems, this transition is in stark contrast because of the absence of gain and loss in the effective Hamiltonian. The latter is real after factoring out the system decay, and the onset of non-Hermiticity in degenerate FWM is due to the tota…
The recently introduced by us two- and three-parameter ($p,q$)- and ($p,q,μ$)-deformed extensions of the Heisenberg algebra were explored under the condition of their direct link with the respective (nonstandard) deformed quantum oscillator algebras. In this paper we explore certain Hermitian Hamiltonian build in terms of non-Hermitian position and momentum operators obeying definite $η(N)$-pseudo-Hermiticity properties. A generalized nonlinear (with the coefficients depending on the excitation number operator $N$) one-mode Bogolyubov transformation is developed as main tool for the correspond…
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.
This paper builds on our earlier proposal for construction of a positive inner product for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians and we give several examples to clarify our method. We show through the example of the harmonic oscillator how our construction applies equally well to Hermitian Hamiltonians which form a subset of pseudo-Hermitian systems. For finite dimensional pseudo-Hermitian matrix Hamiltonians we construct the positive inner product (in the case of $2\times 2$ matrices for both real as well as complex eigenvalues). When the quantum mechanical system cannot be diagonalized exactly, our …
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…
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.
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 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 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…
