Related papers: Appropriate Inner Product for PT-Symmetric Hamilto…
Two non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian systems are reconsidered by means of the algebraic method which was originally proposed for the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems rather than for the PT-symmetric ones. Compared with the way…
In a recent paper it was shown that if a Hamiltonian H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then it also possesses a hidden symmetry represented by the linear operator C. The operator C commutes with both H and PT. The inner product with respect to…
Recently, much research has been carried out on Hamiltonians that are not Hermitian but are symmetric under space-time reflection, that is, Hamiltonians that exhibit PT symmetry. Investigations of the Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem…
The Hamiltonian H specifies the energy levels and the time evolution of a quantum theory. It is an axiom of quantum mechanics that H be Hermitian because Hermiticity guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and that the time evolution is…
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…
It is shown that if a Hamiltonian $H$ is Hermitian, then there always exists an operator P having the following properties: (i) P is linear and Hermitian; (ii) P commutes with H; (iii) P^2=1; (iv) the nth eigenstate of H is also an…
Currently, it has been claimed that certain Hermitian Hamiltonians have parity (P) and they are PT-invariant. We propose generalized definitions of time-reversal operator (T) and orthonormality such that all Hermitian Hamiltonians are P, T,…
We propose construction of a unique and definite metric ($\eta_+$), time-reversal operator (T) and an inner product such that the pseudo-Hermitian matrix Hamiltonians are C, PT, and CPT invariant and PT(CPT)-norm is indefinite (definite).…
Within CPT-symmetric quantum mechanics the most elementary differential form of the charge operator C is assumed. A closed-form integrability of the related coupled differential self-consistency conditions and a natural embedding of the…
Currently there is much interest in Hamiltonians that are not Hermitian but instead possess an antilinear $PT$ symmetry, since such Hamiltonians can still lead to the time-independent evolution of scalar products, and can still have an…
While a Hamiltonian can be both Hermitian and $PT$ symmetric, it is $PT$ symmetry that is the more general, as it can lead to real energy eigenvalues even if the Hamiltonian is not Hermitian. We discuss some specific ways in which $PT$…
Despite its common use in quantum theory, the mathematical requirement of Dirac Hermiticity of a Hamiltonian is sufficient to guarantee the reality of energy eigenvalues but not necessary. By establishing three theorems, this paper gives…
We show that a diagonalizable (non-Hermitian) Hamiltonian H is pseudo-Hermitian if and only if it has an antilinear symmetry, i.e., a symmetry generated by an invertible antilinear operator. This implies that the eigenvalues of H are real…
For a given standard Hamiltonian H=[p-A(x)]^2/(2m)+V(x) with arbitrary complex scalar potential V and vector potential A, with x real, we construct an invertible antilinear operator \tau such that H is \tau-anti-pseudo-Hermitian, i.e.,…
To determine the Hilbert space and inner product for a quantum theory defined by a non-Hermitian $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonian $H$, it is necessary to construct a new time-independent observable operator called $C$. It has recently…
Most recently it has been observed e.g. by Bender and Klevansky (arXiv:0905.4673 [hep-th]) that the C-operator related to a PT-symmetric non-Hermitian Hamilton operator is not unique. Moreover it has been remarked by Shi and Sun…
We present a systematic perturbative construction of the most general metric operator (and positive-definite inner product) for quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians of the standard form, H= p^2/2 + v(x), in one dimension. We show that this problem…
PT-symmetric quantum mechanics is an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics in which the mathematical axiom of Hermiticity (transpose and complex conjugate) is replaced by the physically transparent condition of space-time reflection…
The three simultaneous algebraic equations, $C^2=1$, $[C,PT]=0$, $[C,H]=0$, which determine the $C$ operator for a non-Hermitian $PT$-symmetric Hamiltonian $H$, are shown to have a nonunique solution. Specifically, the $C$ operator for the…
While Hermiticity of a time-independent Hamiltonian leads to unitary time evolution, in and of itself, the requirement of Hermiticity is only sufficient for unitary time evolution. In this paper we provide conditions that are both necessary…