Related papers: Must a Hamiltonian be Hermitian?
The quantum measurement axiom dictates that physical observables and in particular the Hamiltonian must be diagonalizable and have a real spectrum. For a time-independent Hamiltonian (with a discrete spectrum) these conditions ensure the…
In this review we discuss the connection between two seemingly disparate topics, macroscopic gravity on astrophysical scales and Hamiltonians that are not Hermitian but $PT$ symmetric on microscopic ones. In particular we show that the…
In recent decades, an important shift has taken place with the growing role of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics. What makes this framework remarkable is that the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonians involved can still be real, just as in the…
It is shown that, in the framework of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, any conserved Hermitian operator (which may depend explicitly on the time) is the generator of a one-parameter group of unitary symmetries of the Hamiltonian and…
Recently, apparent nonphysical implications of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics (NHQM) have been discussed in the literature. In particular, the apparent violation of the no-signaling theorem, discrimination of nonorthogonal states, and the…
$\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum mechanics has been considered an important theoretical framework for understanding physical phenomena in $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems, with a number of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry related applications. This…
The condition of self-adjointness ensures that the eigenvalues of a Hamiltonian are real and bounded below. Replacing this condition by the weaker condition of ${\cal PT}$ symmetry, one obtains new infinite classes of complex Hamiltonians…
For a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H possessing a real spectrum, we introduce a canonical orthonormal basis in which a previously introduced unitary mapping of H to a Hermitian Hamiltonian h takes a simple form. We use this basis to construct…
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…
A non-Hermitian operator $H$ defined in a Hilbert space with inner product $\langle\cdot|\cdot\rangle$ may serve as the Hamiltonian for a unitary quantum system, if it is $\eta$-pseudo-Hermitian for a metric operator (positive-definite…
Extended quantum mechanics using non-Hermitian, pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians is briefly reviewed. Supersymmetric regularizations, solvable simulations and large-N expansion techniques are recollected as suitable means for the study of…
Large families of Hamiltonians that are non-Hermitian in the conventional sense have been found to have all eigenvalues real, a fact attributed to an unbroken PT symmetry. The corresponding quantum theories possess an unconventional scalar…
It has recently been shown that a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H possessing an unbroken PT symmetry (i) has a real spectrum that is bounded below, and (ii) defines a unitary theory of quantum mechanics with positive norm. The proof of…
Hamiltonian mechanics describes the evolution of a system through its Hamiltonian. The Hamiltonian typically also represents the energy observable, a Noether-conserved quantity associated with the time-invariance of the law of evolution. In…
PT-symmetric Hamiltonians and transfer matrices arise naturally in statistical mechanics. These classical and quantum models often require the use of complex or negative weights and thus fall outside of the conventional equilibrium…
In the context of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, many systems are known to possess a pseudo PT symmetry , i.e. the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H is related to its adjoint H^{{\dag}} via the relation, H^{{\dag}}=PTHPT . We propose a…
This paper investigates finite-dimensional representations of PT-symmetric Hamiltonians. In doing so, it clarifies some of the claims made in earlier papers on PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. In particular, it is shown here that there are…
A re-formulated, non-Hermitian version of the Witten's supersymmetric quantum mechanics is presented. Its use of pseudo-Hermitian (so called PT symmetric) Hamiltonians is reviewed and illustrated via several forms of an innovated…
A $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric, non-Hermitian Hamiltonian in the $\mathcal{PT}$-unbroken regime can lead to unitary dynamics under the appropriate choice of the Hilbert space. The Hilbert space is determined by a Hamiltonian-compatible inner…
The structure of supersymmetry is analyzed systematically in ${\cal PT}$ symmetric quantum mechanical theories. We give a detailed description of supersymmetric systems associated with one dimensional ${\cal PT}$ symmetric quantum…