A pseudo-Hermitian coupled-channel square-well model is proposed, solved and discussed. The domain of parameters is determined where all the bound-state energies (twice degenerate with respect to the second observable which we call "spin") remain real. The standard probabilistic interpretation of the wave functions is achieved by the transition from the original elementary non-physical indefinite pseudo-metric $θ$ to another, more involved but correct positive-definite physical metric $Θ$. In our model the latter step remains comparatively easily feasible. Another fortunate circumstance emerges during the perturbative construction of the metric $Θ$ and, hence, of the correct scalar product and of the physical norm. One finds that at the higher energy levels the influence of all the non-Hermiticities of our model becomes very strongly and progressively suppressed.
We investigate the quantum-mechanical interpretation of models with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and real spectra. After describing a general framework to reformulate such models in terms of Hermitian Hamiltonians defined on the Hilbert space $L_2(-\infty,\infty)$, we discuss the significance of the algebra of physical observables.
It is well known that an (in general, non-commutative) set of non-Hermitian operators $Λ_j$ with real eigenvalues need not necessarily represent observables. We describe a specific class of quantum models in which these operators plus the underlying physical Hilbert-space metric $Θ$ are all represented in terms of an auxiliary operator $(N+1)-$plet $Z_k$, $k=0,1,\ldots,N$. Our formalism degenerates to the ${\cal PT}-$symmetric quantum mechanics at $N=2$, with metric $Θ=Z_2Z_1$, parity ${\cal P}=Z_2$, charge ${\cal C}=Z_1$ and Hamiltonian $H=Z_0$.
Non-Hermiticity and dephasing, collaborating in an unusual wave packet dynamics, realizes unconventional entanglement evolution in a disordered, interacting and asymmetric (non-reciprocal) quantum medium. Taking the Hatano-Nelson model as a concrete example, we first consider how wave packet spreads in a non-Hermitian disordered system for demonstraing that it is very different from the Hermitian case. Interestingly, a cascade like wave packet spreading as in the Hermitian case is suppressed in the clean limit and at weak disorder, while it revives in the vicinity of the localization-delocaliz…
Effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonians describing decaying systems are derived and analyzed in connection with the occurrence of possible Hilbert space partitioning, resulting in a confinement of the dynamics. In some cases, this fact can be interpreted properly as Zeno effect or Zeno dynamics, according to the dimension of the subspace one focuses on; in some other cases, the interpretation is more complicated and traceable back to a mix of Zeno phenomena and lack of resonance. Depending on the complex phases of the diagonal terms of the Hamiltonian, the system reacts in different ways, requiri…
We discuss a real-valued expansion of any Hermitian operator defined in a Hilbert space of finite dimension N, where N is a prime number, or an integer power of a prime. The expansion has a direct interpretation in terms of the operator expectation values for a set of complementary bases. The expansion can be said to be the complement of the discrete Wigner function. We expect the expansion to be of use in quantum information applications since qubits typically are represented by a discrete, and finite-dimensional physical system of dimension N=2^p, where p is the number of qubits involved. As…
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…
The formalism for non-Hermitian quantum systems sometimes blurs the underlying physics. We present a systematic study of the vielbein-like formalism which transforms the Hilbert space bundles of non-Hermitian systems into the conventional ones, rendering the induced Hamiltonian to be Hermitian. In other words, any non-Hermitian Hamiltonian can be "transformed" into a Hermitian one without altering the physics. Thus we show how to find a reference frame (corresponding to Einstein's quantum elevator) in which a non-Hermitian system, equipped with a non-trivial Hilbert space metric, reduces to a …
Heisenberg and Heisenberg-Like Representations via Hilbert Space Bundle Geometry in the Non-Hermitian Regime
National Sun Yat-sen University（国立中山大学）；National Center for Theoretical Sciences（国家理论科学中心）；Adam Mickiewicz University（亚当·密茨凯维奇大学）；RIKEN（理化学研究所）；Basque Center for Applied Mathematics（巴斯克应用数学中心）；National Chung Hsing University（国立中兴大学）；University of Michigan（密歇根大学）
A transformation of the form x to iy; x,y in R, or an equivalent similarity transformation with a metric operator $η$ are shown to transform non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonians into Hermitian partner Hamiltonians in Hilbert space. Isospectrality and mass signature are discussed.
A class of pseudo-hermitian quantum system with an explicit form of the positive-definite metric in the Hilbert space is presented. The general method involves a realization of the basic canonical commutation relations defining the quantum system in terms of operators those are hermitian with respect to a pre-determined positive definite metric in the Hilbert space. Appropriate combinations of these operators result in a large number of pseudo-hermitian quantum systems admitting entirely real spectra and unitary time evolution. The examples considered include simple harmonic oscillators with c…
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.
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…
Non-Hermiticity greatly expands existing physical laws beyond the Hermitian framework, revealing various novel phenomena with unique properties. Up to now, most exotic nonHermitian effects, such as exceptional points and non-Hermitian skin effects, are discovered in single-particle systems. The interplay between non-Hermitian and manybody correlation is expected to be a more fascinating but much less explored area. Due to the complexity of the problem, current researches in this field mainly stay at the theoretical level. The experimental observation of predicted non-Hermitian manybody phases …
In the recently quickly developing context of quantum mechanics of unitary systems using a time-independent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian $H$ (having real spectrum and defined as acting in an unphysical but user-friendly Hilbert space ${\cal R}_N^{(0)}$), the present paper introduces and describes a set of constructive returns of the description to one of the correct and eligible physical Hilbert spaces ${\cal R}_0^{(j)}$. The superscript $j$ may run from $j=0$ to $j=N$. In the $j=0$ extreme of the theory the construction is currently well known and involves solely the inner product metric $Θ=Θ(H)…
"Weak measurements" -- involving a weak unitary interaction between a quantum system and a meter followed by a projective measurement -- are investigated when the system has a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We show in particular how the standard definition of the "weak value" of an observable must be modified. These studies are undertaken in the context of bound state scattering theory, a non-Hermitian formalism for which the Hilbert spaces involved are unambiguously defined and the metric operators can be explicitly computed. Numerical examples are given for a model system.
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.
For a quantum system governed by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, we studied the problem of obtaining an optimum Hamiltonian that generates nonunitary transformations of a given initial state into a certain final state in the smallest time $τ$. The analysis is based on the relationship between the states of the two-dimensional subspace of the Hilbert space spanned by the initial and final states and the points of the two-dimensional complex Bloch sphere.
Non-Hermitian systems with parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetry and anti-$\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry give rise to exceptional points (EPs) with intriguing properties related to, e.g., chiral transport and enhanced sensitivity, due to the coalescence of eigenvectors. In this paper, we propose a powerful and easily computable tool, based on the Hilbert-Schmidt speed (HSS), which does not require the diagonalization of the evolved density matrix, to detect exactly the EPs and hence the critical behavior of the (anti-)$\mathcal{PT}\!-$symmetric systems, especially high-dimensional ones. Our theoretic…
In infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, the application of the concept of quasi-Hermiticity to the description of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with real spectra may lead to problems related to the definition of the metric operator. We discuss these problems by examining some examples taken from the recent literature and propose a formulation that is free of these difficulties.
We study a general class of PT-symmetric tridiagonal Hamiltonians with purely imaginary interaction terms in the quasi-hermitian representation of quantum mechanics. Our general Hamiltonian encompasses many previously studied lattice models as special cases. We provide numerical results regarding domains of observability and exceptional points, and discuss the possibility of explicit construction of general metric operators (which in turn determine all the physical Hilbert spaces). The condition of computational simplicity for the metrics motivates the introduction of certain one-parametric sp…
We introduce a very simple, exactly solvable PT-symmetric non-Hermitian model with real spectrum, and derive a closed formula for the metric operator which relates the problem to a Hermitian one.
We discuss transformations generated by dynamical quantum systems which are bi-unitary, i.e. unitary with respect to a pair of Hermitian structures on an infinite-dimensional complex Hilbert space. We introduce the notion of Hermitian structures in generic relative position. We provide few necessary and sufficient conditions for two Hermitian structures to be in generic relative position to better illustrate the relevance of this notion. The group of bi-unitary transformations is considered in both the generic and non-generic case. Finally, we generalize the analysis to real Hilbert spaces and…
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 conventional Schrödinger representation the unitarity of the evolution of bound states is guaranteed by the Hermiticity of the Hamiltonian. A non-unitary isospectral simplification of the Hamiltonian, $\mathfrak{h} \to H=Ω\,\mathfrak{h}\,Ω\neq H^\dagger$ induces the change ${\cal L} \to {\cal K}$ of the Hilbert space of states, reflected by the loss of the Hermiticity of $H\neq H^\dagger$. In such a reformulation of the theory the introduction of an {\it ad hoc} inner-product metric reconverts ${\cal K}$ into the third, correct physical Hilbert space ${\cal H}$, unitarily equivalent to ${\c…
In the context of traditional quantum-control considerations it is conjectured that one of the promising new strategies of the constructive model building could be sought in a non-stationary upgrade of the formalism of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. This upgrade is briefly reviewed and characterized by the simultaneous participation of a triplet of Hilbert spaces in the representation of a single quantum system.
We systematically study the parity- and time-reversal (PT) symmetric non-Hermitian version of a quantum network proposed in the paper of Christandl et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 187902 (2004)]. The nature of this model shows that it is a paradigm to demonstrate the complex relationship between the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian and its Hermitian counterpart as well as a candidate in the experimental realization to simulate PT-symmetry breaking. We also show that this model allows a conditional perfect state transfer within the unbroken PT-symmetry region but not an arbitrary one. This is due to t…
Entanglement is one of the key feature of quantum world that has no classical counterpart. This arises due to the linear superposition principle and the tensor product structure of the Hilbert space when we deal with multiparticle systems. In this paper, we will introduce the notion of entanglement for quantum systems that are governed by non-Hermitian yet PT-symmetric Hamiltonians. We will show that maximally entangled states in usual quantum theory behave like non-maximally entangled states in PT-symmetric quantum theory. Furthermore, we will show how to create entanglement between two PTQub…
Recently, apparent nonphysical implications of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics (NHQM) have been discussed in the literature. In particular, the apparent violation of the no-signaling theorem, discrimination of nonorthogonal states, and the increase of quantum entanglement by local operations were reported, and therefore NHQM was not considered as a fundamental theory. Here we show that these and other no-go principles (including the no-cloning and no-deleting theorems) of conventional quantum mechanics still hold in finite-dimensional non-Hermitian quantum systems, including parity-time symmet…
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.
We present a numerical study of the spectrum of the Laplacian in an unbounded strip with PT-symmetric boundary conditions. We focus on non-Hermitian features of the model reflected in an unusual dependence of the eigenvalues below the continuous spectrum on various boundary-coupling parameters.
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…
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 o…
A non-Hermitian operator $H$ defined in a Hilbert space with inner product $\langle\cdot|\cdot\rangle$ may serve as the Hamiltonian for a unitary quantum system, if it is $η$-pseudo-Hermitian for a metric operator (positive-definite automorphism) $η$. The latter defines the inner product $\langle \cdot|η\cdot\rangle $ of the physical Hilbert space $\mathscr{H} _η$ of the system. For situations where some of the eigenstates of $H$ depend on time, $η$ becomes time-dependent. Therefore the system has a non-stationary Hilbert space. Such quantum systems, which are also encountered in the study of …
We characterize the quasianti-Hermitian quaternionic operators in QQM by means of their spectra; moreover, we state a necessary and sufficient condition for a set of quasianti-Hermitian quaternionic operators to be anti-Hermitian with respect to a uniquely defined positive scalar product in a infinite dimensional (right) quaternionic Hilbert space. According to such results we obtain two alternative descriptions of a quantum optical physical system, in the realm of quaternionic quantum mechanics, while no alternative can exist in complex quantum mechanics, and we discuss some differences betwe…
We examine the coherent propagation of the one-dimensional Frenkel exciton (correlated electron-hole pair system) based on a model of a quantum walker in multi-dimensional Hilbert space. The walk is governed by a non-Hermitian coin flip operation coupled to a generalized shift process. The dissipative coin flip operation is associated with amplitude leakages at occupied sites, typical of processes which occur when an exciton is transferred along dimer sites in photosynthetic protein complexes. We analyze the characteristics probability distribution of the one-dimensional quantum walk for vario…
Motivated by the existence of bi-Hamiltonian classical systems and the correspondence principle, in this paper we analyze the problem of finding Hermitian scalar products which turn a given flow on a Hilbert space into a unitary one. We show how different invariant Hermitian scalar products give rise to different descriptions of a quantum system in the Ehrenfest and Heisenberg picture.
Excited bound states are often understood within scattering based theories as resulting from the collision of a particle on a target via a short-range potential. We show that the resulting formalism is non-Hermitian and describe the Hilbert spaces and metric operator relevant to a correct formulation of such theories. The structure and tools employed are the same that have been introduced in current works dealing with PT-symmetric and quasi-Hermitian problems. The relevance of the non-Hermitian formulation to practical computations is assessed by introducing a non-Hermiticity index. We give a …
In a previous paper (arXiv:math-ph/0604055) we introduced a very simple PT-symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with real spectrum and derived a closed formula for the metric operator relating the problem to a Hermitian one. In this note we propose an alternative formula for the metric operator, which we believe is more elegant and whose construction -- based on a backward use of the spectral theorem for self-adjoint operators -- provides new insights into the nature of the model.
A non-hermitian deformation of the one-dimensional transverse Ising model is shown to have the property of quasi-hermiticity. The transverse Ising chain is obtained from the starting non-hermitian Hamiltonian through a similarity transformation. Consequently, both the models have identical eigen-spectra, although the eigen-functions are different. The metric in the Hilbert space, which makes the non-hermitian model unitary and ensures the completeness of states, has been constructed explicitly. Although the longitudinal correlation functions are identical for both the non-hermitian and the her…
A method to construct non-dissipative non-Dirac-hermitian relativistic quantum system that is isospectral with a Dirac-hermitian Hamiltonian is presented. The general technique involves a realization of the basic canonical (anti-)commutation relations involving the Dirac matrices and the bosonic degrees of freedom in terms of non-Dirac-hermitian operators, which are hermitian in a Hilbert space that is endowed with a pre-determined positive-definite metric. Several examples of exactly solvable non-dissipative non-Dirac-hermitian relativistic quantum systems are presented by establishing/employ…
We study the quantum-mechanical interpretation of models with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and real spectra. We set up a general framework for the analysis of such systems in terms of Hermitian Hamiltonians defined in the usual Hilbert space $L_2(-\infty,\infty)$. Special emphasis is put on the correct definition of the algebra of physical observables. Within this scheme we consider various examples, including the model recently introduced by Cannata et al. and the model of Hatano and Nelson.
