In this work we intend to study a class of time-dependent quantum systems with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, particularly those whose Hermitian counterpart are important for the comprehension of posed problems in quantum optics and quantum chemistry, which consists of an oscillator with time-dependent mass and frequency under the action of a time-dependent imaginary potential. The propagator for a general time-dependence of the parameters and the wave-functions are obtained explicitly for constant frequency and mass and a linear time-dependence in the potential. The wave-functions are used to obtain the expectation value of the Hamiltonian. Although it is neither Hermitian nor PT symmetric, the case under study exhibits real values of energy.
A series of exactly solvable non-trivial complex potentials (possessing real spectra) are generated by applying the Darboux transformation to the excited eigenstates of a non-Hermitian potential V(x). This method yields an infinite number of non-trivial partner potentials, defined over the whole real line, whose spectra are nearly exactly identical to the original potential.
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.
It has been argued that it is incompatible to maintain unitary time-evolution for time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonians when the metric operator is explicitly time-dependent. We demonstrate here that the time-dependent Dyson equation and the time-dependent quasi-Hermiticity relation can be solved consistently in such a scenario for a time-dependent Dyson map and time-dependent metric operator, respectively. These solutions are obtained at the cost of rendering the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian to be a non-observable operator as it ceases to be quasi-Hermitian when the metric becomes time-depen…
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.
In this work we address systems described by time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonians under time-dependent Dyson maps. We shown that when starting from a given time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian which is not itself an observable, an infinite chain of gauge linked time-dependent non-observable non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can be derived from it. The matrix elements of the observables associated with all these non observable Hamiltonians are, however, all linked to each other, and in the particular case where global gauges exist, these matrix elements becomes all identical to each other. In…
We provide further non-trivial solutions to the recently proposed time-dependent Dyson and quasi-Hermiticity relation. Here we solve them for the generalized version of the non-Hermitian Swanson Hamiltonian with time-dependent coefficients. We construct time-dependent solutions by employing the Lewis-Riesenfeld method of invariants and discuss concrete physical applications of our results.
Explicitly time-dependent pseudo-Hermitian (TDPH) invariants theory systems, with a time-dependent (TD) metric, is developed for a time-dependent non Hermitian (TDNH) quantum systems. We derive a simple relation between the eigenstates of this pseudo-Hermitien (PH) invariant and the solutions of the Schrodinger equation. A physical system is treated in detail: the TD Swanson model, where an explicitly TDPH invariant is derived for this system, the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the invariant are calculated explicitly.
We provide a new perspective on non-Hermitian evolution in quantum mechanics by emphasizing the same method as in the Hermitian quantum evolution. We first give a precise description of the non unitary evolution, and collecting the basic results around it and postulating the norm preserving. This cautionary postulate imposing that the time evolution of a non Hermitian quantum system preserves the inner products between the associated states must not be read naively. We also give an example showing that the solutions of time-dependent non Hermitian Hamiltonian systems given by a linear combinat…
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.
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.
Here we present an strategy for the derivation of a time-dependent Dyson map which ensures simultaneously the unitarity of the time evolution and the observability of a quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian. The time-dependent Dyson map is derived through a constructed Schrödinger-like equation governed by the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian itself; despite its time-dependence our scheme ensures the time-independence of the metric operator, a necessary condition for the observability of the quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian. As an illustrative example we consider a driven Harmonic oscillator described by a time-dep…
We propose a scheme to deal with certain time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian operators $H(t)$ that generate a real phase in their time-evolution. This involves the use of invariant operators $I_{PH}(t)$ that are pseudo-Hermitian with respect to the time-dependent metric operator, which implies that the dynamics is governed by unitary time evolution. Furthermore, $H(t)$ is not generally quasi-Hermitian and does not define an observable of the system but $I_{PH}(t)$ obeys a quasi-hermiticity transformation as in the completely time-independent Hamiltonian systems case. The harmonic oscillat…
The non-Hermitian systems with the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) are very sensitive to the imposed boundary conditions and lattice size, which leads to size-dependent non-Hermitian skin effects. Here, we report the experimental observation of NHSE with different boundary conditions and different lattice size in a unidirectional hopping model based on a circuit platform. The circuit admittance spectra and corresponding eigenstates are very sensitive to the presence of the boundary. Meanwhile, our experimental results show how the lattice size and boundary terms together affect the strength o…
Exact solutions of Schrodinger equation for PT-/non-PT-symmetric and non-Hermitian Morse and Poschl-Teller potentials are obtained with the position-dependent effective mass by applying a point canonical transformation method. Three kinds of mass distributions are used in order to construct exactly solvable target potentials and obtain energy spectrum and corresponding wave functions.
We provide a time-dependent Dyson map and metric for the two dimensional harmonic oscillator with a non-Hermitian $i xy$ coupling term. This particular time-independent model exhibits spontaneously broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry and becomes unphysical in the broken regime, with the spectrum becoming partially complex. By introducing an explicit time-dependence into the Dyson map, we provide a time-dependent metric that renders the model consistent across the unbroken and broken regimes.
With the aim to solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation associated to a time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, we introduce a unitary transformation that maps the Hamiltonian to a time-independent $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric one. Consequently, the solution of time-dependent Schrödinger equation becomes easily deduced and the evolution preserves the $\mathcal{C(}t\mathcal{)PT}$-inner product, where $\mathcal{C(}t\mathcal{)}$ is a obtained from the charge conjugation operator $\mathcal{C}$ through a time dependent unitary transformation. Moreover, the expectation value of the non-Hermitian…
We show that the consequences of an introduction of a manifest time-dependence in a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian H=H(t) are by far less drastic than suggested by A. Mostafazadeh in Phys. Lett. B 650 (2007) 208 (arXiv:0706.1872v2 [quant-ph]). In particular, the unitarity of the evolution does not necessitate the time-independence of the metric $η_+=η_+(t)$.
The relativistic Klein-Gordon system is studied as an illustration of Quantum Mechanics using non-Hermitian operators as observables. A version of the model is considered containing a generic coordinate- and energy-dependent phenomenological mass-term $m^2(E,x)$. We show how similar systems may be assigned a pair of the linear, energy-independent left- and right-acting Hamiltonians with quasi-Hermiticity property and, hence, with the standard probabilistic interpretation.
We provide exact analytical solutions for a two dimensional explicitly time-dependent non-Hermitian quantum system. While the time-independent variant of the model studied is in the broken PT-symmetric phase for the entire range of the model parameters, and has therefore a partially complex energy eigenspectrum, its time-dependent version has real energy expectation values at all times. In our solution procedure we compare the two equivalent approaches of directly solving the time-dependent Dyson equation with one employing the Lewis-Riesenfeld method of invariants. We conclude that the latter…
We propose a procedure to obtain exact analytical solutions to the time-dependent Schrödinger equations involving explicit time-dependent Hermitian Hamitonians from solutions to time-independent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems and the time-dependent Dyson relation together with the time-dependent quasi-Hermiticity relation. We illustrate the working of this method for a simple Hermitian Rabi-type model by relating it to a non-Hermitian time-independent system corresponding to the one-site lattice Yang-Lee model.
The ordinary time-dependent perturbation theory of quantum mechanics, that describes the interaction of a stationary system with a time-dependent perturbation, predicts that the transition probabilities induced by the perturbation are symmetric with respect to the initial an final states. Here we extend time-dependent perturbation theory into the non-Hermitian realm and consider the transitions in a stationary Hermitian system, described by a self-adjoint Hamiltonian $\hat{H}_0$, induced by a time-dependent non-Hermitian interaction $f(t) \hat{P}$. In the weak interaction (perturbative) limit,…
A Hermitian and an anti-Hermitian first-order intertwining operators are introduced and a class of $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian position-dependent mass (PDM) Hamiltonians are constructed. A corresponding reference-target $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian PDM -- Hamiltonians' map is suggested. Some $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian PT -symmetric Scarf II and periodic-type models are used as illustrative examples. Energy-levels crossing and flown-away states phenomena are reported for the resulting Scarf II spectrum. Some of the corresponding $η$-weak-pseudo-Hermitian Scarf II- and periodic-type-isospectral models…
We demonstrate that the existence of a Hermitian time-dependent intertwining operator that maps the non-Hermitian time-dependent energy operator to its Hermitian conjugate and its right to its left eigenstates guarantees the reality of the instantaneous energies. This property holds throughout all three $\cal{PT}$-regimes, in the time-independent scenario referred to as the $\cal{PT}$-symmetric regime, the exceptional point and the spontaneously broken $\cal{PT}$-regime. We also propose a modified adiabatic approximation consisting of an expansion of the wavefunctions in terms the instantaneou…
$\mathcal{PT}$-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 a reviewlike introduction into the quantum mechanical formalism related to non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems with real eigenvalues. Starting with the time-independent framework we explain how to determine an appropriate domain of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and pay particular attention to the role played by PT-symmetry and pseudo-Hermiticity. We discuss the time-evolution of such systems having in particular the question in mind of how to couple consistently an electric field to pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We illustrate the general formalism with three explicit examples: i) the g…
We study $(1+1)$ dimensional Dirac equation with non Hermitian interactions, but real energies. In particular, we analyze the pseudoscalar and scalar interactions in detail, illustrating our observations with some examples. We also show that the relevant hidden symmetry of the Dirac equation with such an interaction is pseudo supersymmetry.
An exact analytical treatment of the dynamical problem for time-dependent 2x2 pseudo-hermitian su(1,1) Hamiltonians is reported. A class of exactly solvable and physically transparent new scenarios are identified within both classical and quantum contexts. Such a class is spanned by a positive parameter $ν$ that allows to distinguish two different dynamical regimes. Our results are usefully employed for exactly solving a classical propagation problem in a guided wave optics scenario. The usefulness of our procedure in a quantum context is illustrated by defining and investigating the su(1,1) "…
Systems with non-Hermitian skin effects are very sensitive to the imposed boundary conditions and lattice size, and thus an important question is whether non-Hermitian skin effects can survive when deviating from the open boundary condition. To unveil the origin of boundary sensitivity, we present exact solutions for one-dimensional non-Hermitian models with generalized boundary conditions and study rigorously the interplay effect of lattice size and boundary terms. Besides the open boundary condition, we identify the existence of non-Hermitian skin effect when one of the boundary hopping term…
The solutions of the time independent Schrodinger equation for non-Hermitian (NH) Hamiltonians have been extensively studied and calculated in many different fields of physics by using L^2 methods that originally have been developed for the calculations of bound states. The existing non-Hermitian formalism breaks down when dealing with wavepackets(WP). An open question is how time dependent expectation values can be calculated when the Hamiltonian is NH ? Using the F-product formalism, which was recently proposed, [J. Phys. Chem., 107, 7181 (2003)] we calculate the time dependent expectation v…
In arXiv:0710.5653v1 M. Znojil claims that he has found and corrected an error in my paper: [Phys. Lett. B \textbf{650}, 208 (2007), arXiv:0706.1872v2] and that it is possible to escape its main conclusion, namely that the unitarity of the time-evolution and observability of the Hamiltonian imply time-independence of the metric operator. In this note I give a very short calculation showing that the analysis given by M. Znojil also leads to the same conclusion as of my above-mentioned paper. This is actually a reconfirmation of the validity of the results of the latter paper.
We demonstrate that complex point transformations can be used to construct non-Hermitian first integrals, time-dependent Dyson maps and metric operators for non-Hermitian quantum systems. Initially we identify a point transformation as a map from an exactly solvable time-independent system to an explicitly time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian system. Subsequently we employ the point transformation to construct the non-Hermitian time-dependent invariant for the latter system. Exploiting the fact that this invariant is pseudo-Hermitian, we construct a corresponding Dyson map as the adjoint a…
The evolution speed in projective Hilbert space is considered for Hermitian Hamiltonians and for non-Hermitian (NH) ones. Based on the Hilbert-Schmidt norm and the spectral norm of a Hamiltonian, resource-related upper bounds on the evolution speed are constructed. These bounds are valid also for NH Hamiltonians and they are illustrated for an optical NH Hamiltonian and for a non-Hermitian $\mathcal{PT}-$symmetric matrix Hamiltonian. Furthermore, the concept of quantum speed efficiency is introduced as measure of the system resources directly spent on the motion in the projective Hilbert space…
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…
I point out that if one defines the operator $U_R(t)$ as done by M. Znojil in his reply [arXiv:0711.0514v1] to my comment [arXiv:0711.0137v1] and also accepts the validity of the defining relation of $U_R(t)$ as given in his paper [arXiv:0710.5653v1], one finds that the time-evolution of the associated quantum system is not governed by the Schrödinger equation for the Hamiltonian operator $H$ but an operator $H'$ which differs from $H$ if the metric operator is time-dependent. In the latter case this effective Hamiltonian $H'$ is not observable. This is consistent with the conclusions of my pa…
For a large class of time-dependent non-Hermitain Hamiltonians expressed in terms linear and bilinear combinations of the generators for an Euclidean Lie-algebra respecting different types of PT-symmetries, we find explicit solutions to the time-dependent Dyson equation. A specific Hermitian model with explicit time-dependence is analyzed further and shown to be quasi-exactly solvable. Technically we constructed the Lewis-Riesenfeld invariants making useof the metric picture, which is an equivalent alternative to the Schrödinger, Heisenberg and interaction picture containing the time-dependenc…
We discuss the basic theoretical framework for non-Hermitian quantum systems with particular emphasis on the diagonalizability of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and their $GL(1,\mathbb{C})$ gauge freedom, which are relevant to the adiabatic evolution of non-Hermitian quantum systems. We find that the adiabatic evolution is possible only when the eigen-energies are real. The accompanying geometric phase is found to be generally complex and associated with not only the phase of a wavefunction but also its amplitude. The condition for the real geometric phase is laid out. Our results are illustrated …
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…
We bring out the existence of at most one spectral singularity (SS) and deep multiple minima in the reflectivity of the non-Hermitian (complex) Ginocchio potential. We find a parameter dependent single spectral singularity in this potential provided the imaginary part is emissive (not absorptive). The reflectionlessness of the real Hermitian Ginocchio's potential at discrete positive energies gives way to deep multiple minima in reflectivity when this potential is perturbed and made non-Hermitian (complex). A novel co-existence of a SS with deep minima in reflectivity is also revealed wherein …
In his fresh "Comment" (arXiv:0711.0137v1), A. Mostafazadeh reacts on my very recent letter (arXiv:0710.5653v1) where I tried to clarify certain misunderstandings which occurred in A. M., Phys. Lett. B \textbf{650}, 208 (2007) [arXiv:0706.1872v2, "Paper"]. As long as the "Comment" offers a new support of the original assertions made in the "Paper", I feel obliged to re-clarify the matter by extending my argumentation. I insist that it is possible to escape the main conclusion of the "Paper", indeed. In particular, I point out a gap in the new calculations in "Comment", add a few remarks on the…
We study the dynamics of non-adiabatic transitions in non-Hermitian multi-level parabolic models where the separations of the diabatic energies are quadratic function of time. The model Hamiltonian has been used to describe the non-Hermitian dynamics of two pairs of coupled cavities. In the absence of the coupling between any two pairs of cavities, the wave amplitudes within each subsystem are described by the tri-confluent Heun functions. When all the couplings between the cavities are present, we reduce the dynamics into a set of two coupled tri-confluent Heun equations, from which we derive…
We demonstrate that non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems with spontaneously broken PT-symmetry and partially complex eigenvalue spectrum can be made meaningful in a quantum mechanical sense when introducing some explicit time-dependence into their parameters. Exploiting the fact that explicitly time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamitonians are unobservable and not identical to the energy operators in such a scenario, we show that their corresponding non-Hermitian energy operators develop a different type of PT-symmetry from the Hamiltonians that ensures the reality of their energy spectra. For this pu…
Inspired by a recently observed asymmetry in the transmission of circularly polarized light through a metamaterial, we present a non-hermitian PT-symmetric quantum model to describe the interaction of the light fields in two resonant cavities coupled via a 2D-chiral mirror. We compute the time evolution of the light fields in this model, find two sets of operators compatible with the hamiltonian in a delocalized representation, discover the energies of the system and show that the transmission probability predicted by the model is indeed asymmetric.
Two-band model works well for Hall effect in topological insulators. It turns out to be non-Hermitian when the system is subjected to environments, and its topology characterized by Chern numbers has received extensive studies in the past decades. However, how a non-Hermitian system responses to an electric field and what is the connection of the response to the Chern number defined via the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian remain barely explored. In this paper, focusing on a k-dependent decay rate, we address this issue by studying the response of such a non-Hermitian Chern insulator to an external e…
We argue that the way to get the general solution of a Schrodinger equation in the presence of a time-dependent linear potential based on the Lewis-Riesenfeld framework is to use a Hermitian linear invariant operator. We demonstrate that the linear invariant proposed in p and q is an Hermitian operator which has the Gaussian wave packet as its eigenfunction.
We propose time-dependent Darboux (supersymmetric) transformations that provide a scheme for the calculation of explicitly time-dependent solvable non-Hermitian partner Hamiltonians. Together with two Hermitian Hamilitonians the latter form a quadruple of Hamiltonians that are related by two time-dependent Dyson equations and two intertwining relations in form of a commutative diagram. Our construction is extended to the entire hierarchy of Hamiltonians obtained from time dependent Darboux-Crum transformations. As an alternative approach we also discuss the intertwining relations for Lewis-Rie…
We consider a generalization of the non-Hermitian ${\mathcal PT}$ symmetric Jaynes-Cummings {Hamiltonian, recently introduced for studying optical phenomena with time-dependent physical parameters, that includes environment-induced decay}. In particular, we investigate the interaction of a two-level fermionic system (such as a two-level atom) with a single bosonic field mode in a cavity. The states of {the} two-level system are allowed to decay because of the interaction with the environment, {and this is included phenomenologically in our non-Hermitian Hamiltonian by introducing complex energ…
Following a generic approach that leads to Bogomolny-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) soliton solutions by imposing self-duality, we investigate three different types of non-Hermitian field theories. We consider a complex version of a logarithmic potential that possess BPS super-exponential kink and antikink solutions and two different types of complex generalisations of systems of coupled sine-Gordon models with kink and antikink solution of complex versions of arctan type. Despite the fact that all soliton solutions obtainedin this manner are complex in the non-Hermitian theories we show that they p…
A generalized non-Hermitian oscillator Hamiltonian is proposed that consists of additional linear terms which break PT-symmetry explicitly. The model is put into an equivalent Hermitian form by means of a similarity transformation and the criterion of N-fold supersymmetry with a position-dependent mass is shown to reside in it.
Twin Hamiltonians, three types of the Dyson maps, and the probabilistic interpretation problem in quasi-Hermitian quantum mechanics
Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar（印度技术学院布巴内斯瓦尔分校）；Adam Mickiewicz University（亚当·密茨凯维奇大学）；The Czech Academy of Sciences, Nuclear Physics Institute（捷克科学院核物理研究所）；University of Hradec Králové（赫拉德茨-克拉洛韦大学）；Rochester Institute of Technology（罗切斯特理工学院）
We associate the stationary harmonic oscillator with time-dependent systems exhibiting non-Hermiticity by means of point transformations. The new systems are exactly solvable, with all-real spectrum, and transit to the Hermitian configuration for the appropriate values of the involved parameters. We provide a concrete generalization of the Swanson oscillator that includes the Caldirola-Kanai model as a particular case. Explicit solutions are given in both, the classical and quantum pictures.
