English

Accidental crossings of eigenvalues in one-dimensional complex PT-symmetric Scarf-II potential

Quantum Physics 2015-09-30 v2 Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

So far, the well known two branches of real discrete spectrum of complex PT-symmetric Scarf II potential are kept isolated. Here, we suggest that these two need to be brought together as doublets: E±n(λ)E^n_{\pm}(\lambda) with n=0,1,2...n=0,1,2.... Then if strength (λ)(\lambda) of the imaginary part of the potential is varied smoothly some pairs of real eigenvalue curves can intersect and cross each other at λ=λ\lambda=\lambda_{*}; this is unlike one dimensional Hermitian potentials. However, we show that the corresponding eigenstates at λ=λ\lambda=\lambda_{*} are identical or linearly dependent denying degeneracy in one dimension, once again. Other pairs of eigenvalue curves coalesce to complex-conjugate pairs completing the scenario of spontaneous breaking of PT-symmetry at λ=λc\lambda=\lambda_{c}. To re-emphasize, sharply at λ=λ\lambda=\lambda_{*} and λc\lambda_{c}, two real eigenvalues coincide, nevertheless their corresponding eigenfunctions become identical or linearly dependent and the Hamiltonian looses diagonalizability.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1503.02426,
  title  = {Accidental crossings of eigenvalues in one-dimensional complex PT-symmetric Scarf-II potential},
  author = {Zafar Ahmed and Dona Ghosh and Joseph Amal Nathan and Gaurang Parkar},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1503.02426},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

16 pages, 4 figures and two Tables