Non-Hermitian Quantum Physics of Open Systems
Abstract
Information on quantum systems can be obtained only when they are open (or opened) in relation to a certain environment. As a matter of fact, realistic open quantum systems appear in very different shape. We sketch the theoretical description of open quantum systems by means of a projection operator formalism elaborated many years ago, and applied by now to the description of different open quantum systems. The Hamiltonian describing the open quantum system is non-Hermitian. Most studied are the eigenvalues of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian of many-particle systems embedded in one environment. We point to the unsolved problems of this method when applied to the description of realistic many-body systems. We then underline the role played by the eigenfunctions of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Very interesting results originate from the fluctuations of the eigenfunctions in systems with gain and loss of excitons. They occur with an efficiency of nearly 100\%. An example is the photosynthesis.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1707.03298,
title = {Non-Hermitian Quantum Physics of Open Systems},
author = {Ingrid Rotter},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1707.03298},
year = {2017}
}
Comments
8 pages, no figures, addition of reference [5], addition of a paragraph on p. 3