Related papers: Giving up the ghost
We consider finite and infinite-dimensional ghost-ridden dynamical systems whose Hamiltonians involve non positive definite kinetic terms. We point out the existence of three classes of such systems where the ghosts are benign, i.e. systems…
Beginning with a simple set of planar equations, we discuss novel realizations of the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator in various contexts. First, due to the bi-Hamiltonian character of this model, we develop a Hamiltonian approach for the…
We explore a dark energy model with a ghost scalar field in the context of the runaway dilaton scenario in low-energy effective string theory. We address the problem of vacuum stability by implementing higher-order derivative terms and show…
We study higher derivative terms associated with scalar field cosmology. We consider a coupling between the scalar field and the geometry inspired by the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator, given by…
Generalized PT symmetry provides crucial insight into the sign problem for two classes of models. In the case of quantum statistical models at non-zero chemical potential, the free energy density is directly related to the ground state…
We review the formulation of quantum field theories with purely virtual particles, a new type of degrees of freedom that can mediate interactions without ever appear as external on-shell states. This property allows to solve the problem of…
Numerous claims in the literature suggest that gravity induced on a higher co-dimensional surface violates unitarity in the weak coupling regime. However, it remained unclear, why a conserved source localized on this surface and giving rise…
The status of classical stability in higher-derivative systems is still subject to discussions. In this note, we argue that, contrary to general belief, many higher-derivative systems are classically stable. The main tool to see this…
Two Lagrangian formulations for describing of the damped harmonic oscillator have been introduced by Bateman. For these models we construct higher derivative generalization which enjoys the l-conformal Newton-Hooke symmetry. The dynamics of…
A state of a quantum systems can be regarded as {\it classical} ({\it quantum}) with respect to measurements of a set of canonical observables iff there exists (does not exist) a well defined, positive phase space distribution, the so…
In light of recent progress in ghost-free theories of massive gravity and multi-gravity, we reconsider the problem of constructing a ghost-free theory of an interacting spin-2 field charged under a U(1) gauge symmetry. Our starting point is…
A quantum system exhibiting $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry is a Bose-Einstein condensate in a double-well potential with balanced particle gain and loss, which is described in the mean-field limit by a Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a complex…
Phantom fields with negative kinetic energy are often plagued by the vacuum quantum instability in the ultraviolet region. We present a Lorentz-violating dark energy model free from this problem and show that the crossing of the…
A comparative analysis of a model of complex scalar field $\phi$ and real scalar field $\chi$ with interaction $g\phi^*\phi\chi$ for the real and purely imaginary values of coupling $g$ in perturbative and non-perturbative regions. In…
PT-symmetric quantum theory was originally proposed with the aim of extending standard quantum theory by relaxing the Hermiticity constraint on Hamiltonians. However, no such extension has been formulated that consistently describes states,…
The algebraic method enables one to study the properties of the spectrum of a quadratic Hamiltonian through the mathematical properties of a matrix representation called regular or adjoint. This matrix exhibits exceptional points where it…
This paper proposes to broaden the canonical formulation of quantum mechanics. Ordinarily, one imposes the condition $H^\dagger=H$ on the Hamiltonian, where $\dagger$ represents the mathematical operation of complex conjugation and matrix…
It is shown that ghost fields are indispensable in deriving well-defined antiderivatives in pure space-like axial gauge quantizations of gauge fields. To avoid inessential complications we confine ourselves to noninteracting abelian fields…
Theories with higher derivatives involve linear instabilities in the Hamiltonian commonly known as Ostrogradski ghosts and can be viewed as a very serious problem during quantization. To cure {this} , we have considered the properties of…
Preservation of coherence is a fundamental yet subtle phenomenon in open systems. We uncover its relation to symmetries respected by the system Hamiltonian and its coupling to the environment. We discriminate between local and global…