We investigate quasi-hermitian quantum mechanics in phase space using standard deformation quantization methods: Groenewold star products and Wigner transforms. We focus on imaginary Liouville theory as a representative example where exact results are easily obtained. We emphasize spatially periodic solutions, compute various distribution functions and phase-space metrics, and explore the relationships between them.
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.
The author discusses a different kind of Hermitian quantum mechanics, called $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics. He shows that $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics is indeed $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics, and that time evolution (in the Krein space of states) is unitary if and only if Hamiltonian is $J$-Hermitian (or equivalently $PT$-symmetric). An issue with unitarity comes up when time evolution is considered in the Hilbert space of states rather than in the Krein space of states. The author offers possible scenarios with this issue.
We explain why the main conclusion of Bender et al, hep-th/0511229 [J. Phys. A 39 (2006) 1657] regarding the practical superiority of the non-Hermitian description of PT-symmetric quantum systems over their Hermitian description is not valid. Recalling the essential role played by the Hermitian description in the characterization and interpretation of the physical observables, we maintain that as far as the physical aspects of the theory are concerned the Hermitian description is not only unavoidable but also indispensable.
For a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H possessing a real spectrum, we introduce a canonical orthonormal basis in which a previously introduced unitary mapping of H to a Hermitian Hamiltonian h takes a simple form. We use this basis to construct the observables O of the quantum mechanics based on H. In particular, we introduce pseudo-Hermitian position and momentum operators and a pseudo-Hermitian quantization scheme that relates the latter to the ordinary classical position and momentum observables. These allow us to address the problem of determining the conserved probability density and the under…
A harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian augmented by a non-Hermitian \pt-symmetric part and its su(1,1) generalizations, for which a family of positive-definite metric operators was recently constructed, are re-examined in a supersymmetric context. Quasi-Hermitian supersymmetric extensions of such Hamiltonians are proposed by enlarging su(1,1) to a ${\rm su}(1,1/1) \sim {\rm osp}(2/2, \R)$ superalgebra. This allows the construction of new non-Hermitian Hamiltonians related by similarity to Hermitian ones. Some examples of them are reviewed.
The phenomenon of quantum phase transition is considered in the special case in which the evolution laws remain unitary and in which the bound-state energies remain observable. The conventional Hermiticity of observables is lost at the interface, replaced by the so called quasi-Hermiticity. Several features of the passage of the system through the interface are discussed and illustrated by elementary illustrative ${\cal PT}-$symmetric examples.
The spectral singularity (SS) and coherent perfect absorption (CPA) have been extensively studied over the last one and half decade for different non-Hermitian potentials in non-Hermitian standard quantum mechanics (SQM) governed by Schrodinger equation. In the present work we explore these scattering features in the domain of non-Hermitian space fractional quantum mechanics (SFQM) governed by fractional Schrodinger equation which is characterized by Levy index $α$ ($ 1< α\leq 2$). We observe that non-Hermitian SFQM systems have more flexibility for SS and CPA and display some new features of …
We provide a careful analysis of the generating functional in the path integral formulation of pseudo-Hermitian and in particular PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and show how the metric operator enters the expression for the generating functional.
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 work we present a general formalism to treat non-Hermitian and noncommutative Hamiltonians. This is done employing the phase-space formalism of quantum mechanics, which allows to write a set of robust maps connecting the Hamitonians and the associated Wigner functions to the different Hilbert space structures, namely, those describing the non-Hermitian and noncommutative, Hermitian and noncommutative, and Hermitian and commutative systems. A general recipe is provided to obtain the expected values of the more general Hamiltonian. Finally, we apply our method to the harmonic oscillator …
A non-Hermitian operator with a real spectrum and a complete set of eigenvectors may serve as the Hamiltonian operator for a unitary quantum system provided that one makes an appropriate choice for the defining inner product of the physical Hilbert state. We study the consequences of such a choice for the representation of states in terms of projection operators and the geometry of the state space. This allows for a careful treatment of the quantum Brachistochrone problem and shows that it is indeed impossible to achieve faster unitary evolutions using PT-symmetric or other non-Hermitian Hamil…
Using the method of point canonical transformation, we derive some exactly solvable rationally extended quantum Hamiltonians which are non-Hermitian in nature and whose bound state wave functions are associated with Laguerre- or Jacobi-type $X_1$ exceptional orthogonal polynomials. These Hamiltonians are shown, with the help of imaginary shift of co-ordinate: $ e^{-αp} x e^{αp} = x+ i α$, to be both quasi and pseudo-Hermitian. It turns out that the corresponding energy spectra is entirely real.
Diagonalizable pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians with real and discrete spectra, which are superpartners of Hermitian Hamiltonians, must be $η$-pseudo-Hermitian with Hermitian, positive-definite and non-singular $η$ operators. We show that despite the fact that an $η$ operator produced by a supersymmetric transformation, corresponding to the exact supersymmetry, is singular, it can be used to find the eigenfunctions of a Hermitian operator equivalent to the given pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Once the eigenfunctions of the Hermitian operator are found the operator may be reconstructed with the hel…
The spectral singularity have been extensively studied over the last one and half decade for different non-Hermitian potentials in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics. The nature of spectral singularities have not been studied for the case of quaternionic potential. In the present work we perform an analytical study for the scattering from a quaternionic point interaction represented by delta function. New features of spectral singularities are observed which are different than the case of complex (non-quaternionic) point interaction. Most notable difference is the occurrence of spectral singulari…
The spectral analysis of a non-Hermitian unbounded operator appearing in quantum physics is our main concern. The properties of such an operator are essentially different from those of Hermitian Hamiltonians, namely due to spectral instabilities. We demonstrate that the considered operator and its adjoint can be diagonalized when expressed in terms of certain conveniently constructed operators. We show that their eigenfunctions constitute complete systems, but do not form Riesz bases. Attempts to overcome this difficulty in the quantum mechanical set up are pointed out.
A reformulation of quantum mechanics called ``hybrid interaction picture'' (HIP) is proposed. In contrast to its current non-Hermitian-interaction-picture (NIP) predecessor the new formalism combines a simplification of the NIP Hilbert-space metric with an innovative preconditioning of the observables of interest. Via an illustrative example it is shown that the idea might open new ways towards optimal model-building strategies in quantum theory of unitary systems.
In this talk I present a simple and unified approach to both exact and quasi-exact solvabilities of the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation. It is based on the prepotential together with Bethe ansatz equations. This approach gives the potential as well as the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues simultaneously. In this approach the system is completely defined by the choice of the change of variables, and the so-called zero-th order prepotential. We illustrate the approach by several examples of Hermitian and non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with real energies. The method can be easily extended to the co…
We present a mathematical formalism of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, following the Dirac-von Neumann formalism of quantum mechanics. In this formalism, the state postulate is the same as in the Dirac-von Neumann formalism, but the observable postulate should be changed to include para-Hermitian operators (spectral operators of scalar type with real spectrum) representing observable, as such both the measurement postulate and the evolution postulate must be modified accordingly. This is based on a Stone type theorem as proved here that the dynamics of non-Hermitian quantum systems is governe…
We study non Hermitian quantum systems in noncommutative space as well as a \cal{PT}-symmetric deformation of this space. Specifically, a \mathcal{PT}-symmetric harmonic oscillator together with iC(x_1+x_2) interaction is discussed in this space and solutions are obtained. It is shown that in the \cal{PT} deformed noncommutative space the Hamiltonian may or may not possess real eigenvalues depending on the choice of the noncommutative parameters. However, it is shown that in standard noncommutative space, the iC(x_1+x_2) interaction generates only real eigenvalues despite the fact that the Ham…
We present a generalization of the perturbative construction of the metric operator for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with more than one perturbation parameter. We use this method to study the non-Hermitian scattering Hamiltonian: H=p^2/2m+ζ_-δ(x+a)+ζ_+δ(x-a), where ζ_\pm and a are respectively complex and real parameters and δ(x) is the Dirac delta function. For regions in the space of coupling constants ζ_\pm where H is quasi-Hermitian and there are no complex bound states or spectral singularities, we construct a (positive-definite) metric operator ηand the corresponding equivalent Hermitian H…
We propose giving the mathematical concept of the pseudospectrum a central role in quantum mechanics with non-Hermitian operators. We relate pseudospectral properties to quasi-Hermiticity, similarity to self-adjoint operators, and basis properties of eigenfunctions. The abstract results are illustrated by unexpected wild properties of operators familiar from PT-symmetric quantum mechanics.
In his recent paper arXiv:1312.7738, the author discussed $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics and showed that $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics is essentially $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics. In this paper, the author discusses finite $J$-Hermitian quantum mechanics which is derived naturally from its continuum one and its relationship with finite $PT$-symmetric quantum mechanics.
Eigenstates exhibit localization at an open edge in a non-Hermitian lattice due to non-Hermitian skin effect. We here explore another interesting feature of non-Hermitian skin effect and predict quasi-stationary solutions, which are approximately time-independent. We show that the transition from such states to eigenstates is dramatically non-perturbative. We discuss that mathematically extending the boundary of a long non-Hermitian lattice to infinity can lead to nontrivial solution. We consider a non-Hermitian variant of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model and predict non-topological but ro…
We construct a previously unknown $E_2$-quasi-exactly solvable non-Hermitian model whose eigenfunctions involve weakly orthogonal polynomials obeying three-term recurrence relations that factorize beyond the quantization level. The model becomes Hermitian when one of its two parameters is fixed to a specific value. We analyze the double scaling limit of this model leading to the complex Mathieu equation. The norms, Stieltjes measures and moment functionals are evaluated for some concrete values of one of the two parameters.
We demonstrate that the recent paper by Jana and Roy entitled ''Non-Hermitian quantum mechanics with minimal length uncertainty'' [SIGMA 5 (2009), 083, 7 pages, arXiv:0908.1755] contains various misconceptions. We compare with an analysis on the same topic carried out previously in our manuscript [arXiv:0907.5354]. In particular, we show that the metric operators computed for the deformed non-Hermitian Swanson models differs in both cases and is inconsistent in the former.
In the recent years a generalization $H=p^2 +x^2(ix)^ε$ of the harmonic oscillator using a complex deformation was investigated, where ε is a real parameter. Here, we will consider the most simple case: εeven and x real. We will give a complete characterization of three different classes of operators associated with the differential expression H: The class of all self-adjoint (Hermitian) operators, the class of all PT symmetric operators and the class of all P-self-adjoint operators. Surprisingly, some of the PT symmetric operators associated to this expression have no resolvent set.
A diagonalizable non-Hermitian Hamiltonian having a real spectrum may be used to define a unitary quantum system, if one modifies the inner product of the Hilbert space properly. We give a comprehensive and essentially self-contained review of the basic ideas and techniques responsible for the recent developments in this subject. We provide a critical assessment of the role of the geometry of the Hilbert space in conventional quantum mechanics to reveal the basic physical principle motivating our study. We then offer a survey of the necessary mathematical tools and elaborate on a number of rel…
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 …
Within the context of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, we use the generators of eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian to construct a unitary inner product space. Such models have been of interest in recent years, for instance, in the context of ${\cal PT}$ symmetry, although our construction extends to the larger class of so-called pseudo-Hermitian Operators. We provide a detailed example to illustrate the concept and compare with known results.
During the recent developments of quantum theory it has been clarified that the observable quantities (like energy or position) may be represented by operators (with real spectra) which are manifestly non-Hermitian. The mathematical consistency of the resulting models of stable quantum systems requires a reconstruction of an alternative, amended, physical inner product of states. We point out the less known fact that for more than one observable the task is not always feasible. The difficulty is re-analyzed and its elementary linear-algebraic interpretation and treatment are outlined.
Starting on the basis of the non-commutative q-differential calculus, we introduce a generalized q-deformed Schrödinger equation. It can be viewed as the quantum stochastic counterpart of a generalized classical kinetic equation, which reproduces at the equilibrium the well-known q-deformed exponential stationary distribution. In this framework, q-deformed adjoint of an operator and q-hermitian operator properties occur in a natural way in order to satisfy the basic quantum mechanics assumptions.
In a way paralleling the recently accepted non-Hermitian version of quantum mechanics in its Schrödinger representation (working often with the innovative and heuristically productive concept of ${\cal PT}-$symmetry), it is demonstrated that it is also possible to construct an analogous non-Hermitian version of quantum mechanics in its Heisenberg representation.
The non-Hermitian Schrödinger equation is re-expressed generally in the form of Hamilton's canonical equation without any approximation. Its quantization called non-Hermitian quantum field theory is discussed. By virtue of the canonical equation, the theory of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics is totally reformulated, including the probability amplitudes of states, the expectations of operators, as well as the expressions of interaction terms. The conventional difficulties in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics are totally overcome by the reformulation. Specifically, the imaginary parts the non-Herm…
The pure state space of Quantum Mechanics is investigated as Hermitian Symmetric Kaehler manifold. The classical principles of Quantum Mechanics (Quantum Superposition Principle, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, Quantum Probability Principle) and Spectral Theory of observables are discussed in this non linear geometrical context.
We give a simple proof of the fact that every diagonalizable operator that has a real spectrum is quasi-Hermitian and show how the metric operators associated with a quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian are related to the symmetry generators of an equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian.
We develop relativistic wave equations in the framework of the new non-hermitian ${\cal PT}$ quantum mechanics. The familiar Hermitian Dirac equation emerges as an exact result of imposing the Dirac algebra, the criteria of ${\cal PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics, and relativistic invariance. However, relaxing the constraint that in particular the mass matrix be Hermitian also allows for models that have no counterpart in conventional quantum mechanics. For example it is well-known that a quartet of Weyl spinors coupled by a Hermitian mass matrix reduces to two independent Dirac fermions; here…
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 …
Deformations of the canonical commutation relations lead to non-Hermitian momentum and position operators and therefore almost inevitably to non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We demonstrate that such type of deformed quantum mechanical systems may be treated in a similar framework as quasi/pseudo and/or PT-symmetric systems, which have recently attracted much attention. For a newly proposed deformation of exponential type we compute the minimal uncertainty and minimal length, which are essential in almost all approaches to quantum gravity.
The breakdown of Ehrenfest's theorem imposes serious limitations on quaternionic quantum mechanics (QQM). In order to determine the conditions in which the theorem is valid, we examined the conservation of the probability density, the expectation value and the classical limit for a non-anti-hermitian formulation of QQM. The results also indicated that the non-anti-hermitian quaternionic theory is related to non-hermitian quantum mechanics, and thus the physical problems described with both of the theories should be related.
A non-Hermitian Hamiltonian that has an unbroken PT symmetry can be converted by means of a similarity transformation to a physically equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian. This raises the following question: In which form of the quantum theory, the non-Hermitian or the Hermitian one, is it easier to perform calculations? This paper compares both forms of a non-Hermitian $ix^3$ quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian and demonstrates that it is much harder to perform calculations in the Hermitian theory because the perturbation series for the Hermitian Hamiltonian is constructed from divergent Feynman graph…
We study non-Hermitian quantum mechanics in the presence of a minimal length. In particular we obtain exact solutions of a non-Hermitian displaced harmonic oscillator and the Swanson model with minimal length uncertainty. The spectrum in both the cases are found to be real. It is also shown that the models are $η$ pseudo-Hermitian and the metric operator is found explicitly in both the cases.
Examples are given of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian operators which have a real spectrum. Some of the investigated operators are expressed in terms of the generators of the Weil-Heisenberg algebra. It is argued that the existence of an involutive operator $\hat J$ which renders the Hamiltonian $\hat J$-Hermitian leads to the unambiguous definition of an associated positive definite norm allowing for the standard probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics. Non-Hermitian extensions of the Poeschl-Teller Hamiltonian are also considered. Hermitian counterparts obtained by similarity transformat…
A condition to have a real spectrum for a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is given. As special cases, it is shown that the condition is reduced to Hermiticity and PT symmetric conditions.
We construct six multi-parameter families of Hermitian quasi-exactly solvable matrix Schroedinger operators in one variable. The method for finding these operators relies heavily upon a special representation of the Lie algebra o(2,2) whose representation space contains an invariant finite-dimensional subspace. Besides that we give several examples of quasi-exactly solvable matrix models that have square-integrable eigenfunctions. These examples are in direct analogy with the quasi-exactly solvable scalar Schroedinger operators obtained by Turbiner and Ushveridze.
A series of recent papers ``Faster than Hermitian Quantum Mechanics'' and related articles made a point of the possibility of a non-Hermitian, but PT-symmetric, operator to play the role of a Hamiltonian. In particular, they show that with an appropriate choice of an inner product, the evolution generated by such an operator will conserve the norm and scalar product. Here we observe that if one chooses such an inner product then the Hamiltonian in question is actually Hermitian, and the whole exercise is to a certain degree redundant.
The rationale for introducing non-hermitian Hamiltonians and other observables is reviewed and open issues identified. We present a new approach based on Moyal products to compute the metric for quasi-hermitian systems. This approach is not only an efficient method of computation, but also suggests a new perspective on quasi-hermitian quantum mechanics which invites further exploration. In particular, we present some first results which link the Berry connection and curvature to non-perturbative properties and the metric.
We construct a family of hermitian potentials in 1D quantum mechanics that converges in the zero-range limit to a $δ$ interaction with an energy-dependent coupling. It falls out of the standard four-parameter family of pointlike interactions in 1D. Such classification was made by requiring the pointlike interaction to be hermitian. But we show that although our Hamiltonian is hermitian for the standard inner product when the range of the potential is finite, it becomes hermitian for a different inner product in the zero-range limit. This inner product attributes a finite probability (and not p…
This paper investigates the thermodynamics of a large class of non-Hermitian, $PT$-symmetric oscillators, whose energy spectrum is entirely real. The spectrum is estimated by second-order WKB approximation, which turns out to be very accurate even for small quantum numbers, and used to generate the quantum partition function. Graphs showing the thermal behavior of the entropy and the specific heat, at all regimes of temperature, are given. To obtain the corresponding classical partition function it turns out to be necessary in general to integrate over a complex "phase space". For the wrong-si…
In principle, non-Hermitian quantum equations of motion can be formulated using as a starting point either the Heisenberg's or the Schrödinger's picture of quantum dynamics. Here it is shown in both cases how to map the algebra of commutators, defining the time evolution in terms of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, onto a non-Hamiltonian algebra with a Hermitian Hamiltonian. The logic behind such a derivation is reversible, so that any Hermitian Hamiltonian can be used in the formulation of non-Hermitian dynamics through a suitable algebra of generalized (non-Hamiltonian) commutators. These result…
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.
