English

Poincar\'{e} symmetries and representations in pseudo-Hermitian quantum field theory

High Energy Physics - Theory 2024-04-04 v2 Mathematical Physics math.MP Quantum Physics

Abstract

This paper explores quantum field theories with pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians, where PT-symmetric Hamiltonians serve as a special case. In specific regimes, these pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians have real eigenspectra, orthogonal eigenstates, and unitary time evolution. So far, most pseudo-Hermitian quantum field theories have been constructed using analytic continuation or by adding non-Hermitian terms to otherwise Hermitian Hamiltonians. However, in this paper, we take a different approach. We construct pseudo-Hermitian scalar and fermionic quantum field theories from first principles by extending the Poincar\'e algebra to include non-Hermitian generators. This allows us to develop consistent pseudo-Hermitian quantum field theories, with Lagrangian densities that transform appropriately under the proper Poincar\'e group. By doing so, we establish a more solid theoretical foundation for the emerging field of non-Hermitian quantum field theory.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2307.16805,
  title  = {Poincar\'{e} symmetries and representations in pseudo-Hermitian quantum field theory},
  author = {Esra Sablevice and Peter Millington},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2307.16805},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

49 pages, revtex format; discussion of fermions and the C operator extended; to match published version