Related papers: Mutual compatibility/incompatibility of quasi-Herm…
A quasi-Hermitian operator is an operator that is similar to its adjoint in some sense, via a metric operator, i.e., a strictly positive self-adjoint operator. Whereas those metric operators are in general assumed to be bounded, we analyze…
During the recent developments of quantum theory it has been clarified that the observable quantities (like energy or position) may be represented by operators (with real spectra) which are manifestly non-Hermitian. The mathematical…
It is well known that an (in general, non-commutative) set of non-Hermitian operators $\Lambda_j$ with real eigenvalues need not necessarily represent observables. We describe a specific class of quantum models in which these operators plus…
A quasi-Hermitian operator is an operator that is similar to its adjoint in some sense, via a metric operator, i.e., a strictly positive self-adjoint operator. Whereas those metric operators are in general assumed to be bounded, we analyze…
In most introductory courses on quantum mechanics one is taught that the Hamiltonian operator must be Hermitian in order that the energy levels be real and that the theory be unitary (probability conserving). To express the Hermiticity of a…
In the conventional Schr\"{o}dinger's formulation of quantum mechanics the unitary evolution of a state $\psi$ is controlled, in Hilbert space ${\cal L}$, by a Hamiltonian $\mathfrak{h}$ which must be self-adjoint. In the recent,…
In the recently quickly developing context of quantum mechanics of unitary systems using a time-independent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian $H$ (having real spectrum and defined as acting in an unphysical but user-friendly Hilbert space ${\cal…
Motivated by the recent developments of pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics, we analyze the structure generated by unbounded metric operators in a Hilbert space. To that effect, we consider the notions of similarity and quasi-similarity…
In infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, the application of the concept of quasi-Hermiticity to the description of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with real spectra may lead to problems related to the definition of the metric operator. We discuss…
In Quantum Mechanics operators must be hermitian and, in a direct product space, symmetric. These properties are saved by Lie algebra operators but not by those of quantum algebras. A possible correspondence between observables and quantum…
We give an explicit characterization of the most general quasi-Hermitian operator H, the associated metric operators \eta_+, and \eta_+-pseudo-Hermitian operators acting in two-dimensional complex Euclidean space C^2. These operators…
We are focused on the idea that observables in quantum physics are a bit more than just hermitian operators and that this is, in general, a "tricky business". The origin of this idea comes from the fact that there is a subtle difference…
The main achievements of Pseudo-Hermitian Quantum Mechanics and its distinction with the indefinite-metric quantum theories are reviewed. The issue of the non-uniqueness of the metric operator and its consequences for defining the…
The current applications of non-Hermitian but ${\cal PT}-$symmetric Hamiltonians $H$ cover several, mutually not too closely connected subdomains of quantum physics. Mathematically, the split between the open and closed systems can be…
Quantum mechanics of unitary systems is considered in quasi-Hermitian representation. In this framework the concept of perturbation is found counterintuitive, for three reasons. The first one is that in this formalism we are allowed to…
Quasi-Hermitian quantum systems, including $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric ones, can be mapped to equivalent Hermitian systems via a similarity transformation that redefines the inner product with a positive-definite metric operator. Although an…
Observables are believed that they must be Hermitian in quantum theory. Based on the obviously physical fact that only eigenstates of observable and its corresponding probabilities, i.e., spectrum distribution of observable are actually…
In recent reports, suggestions have been put forward to the effect that parity and time-reversal (PT) symmetry in quantum mechanics is incompatible with causality. It is shown here, in contrast, that PT-symmetric quantum mechanics is fully…
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,…
We show that the joint behaviour of an arbitrary pair of quantum observables can be described by quasi-probabilities, which are extensions of the standard probabilities used for describing the behaviour of a single observable. The physical…