中文

Is PT-symmetric quantum mechanics just quantum mechanics in a non-orthogonal basis?

量子物理 2007-05-23 v2 高能物理 - 理论

摘要

One of the postulates of quantum mechanics is that the Hamiltonian is Hermitian, as this guarantees that the eigenvalues are real. Recently there has been an interest in asking if H=HH^\dagger = H is a necessary condition, and has lead to the development of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. This note shows that any finite physically acceptable non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is equivalent to doing ordinary quantum mechanics in a non-orthogonal basis. In particular, this means that there is no experimental distinction between PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and ordinary quantum mechanics for finite systems. In particular, the claim that PT-symmetric quantum mechanics allows for faster evolution than Hermitian quantum mechanics is shown to be a problem of physical interpretation.

引用

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0701223,
  title  = {Is PT-symmetric quantum mechanics just quantum mechanics in a non-orthogonal basis?},
  author = {Damien Martin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0701223},
  year   = {2007}
}

备注

16 pages; references added, sign error fixed