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arXiv:0706.2509

Exact Metric Operators as the Ground State functions of the Hermitian Conjugates of a Class of Quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians

Abouzeid M. Shalaby

Published Jun 17, 2007• 0 citations
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Abstract

We generalized a class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians which introduced previously by us in such a way in which every member in the class is non-\textit{PT}-symmetric. For every member of the class, the ground state is a constant with zero energy eigen value. Instead of using an infinite set of coupled operator equations to calculate the metric operator we used a simple realization to obtain the class of closed form metric operators corresponding to the class of non-Hermitian and non-\textit{PT}-symmetric Hamiltonians introduced. The trick is that, if $ψ$ is an eigen function of $H$, then $ϕ=ηψ$ is an eigen function of $H^{\dagger}$ with the same eigen value. Thus, knowing any pair $(ψ,ϕ)$ one can deduce the form of the exact metric operator. We note that, the class of Hamiltonians generalized in this work has the form of that of imaginary magnetic field which can be absorbed by the quasi-gauge transformations represented by metric operators. Accordingly, it is expected that the $Q$ operators will disappear for the whole members in the class in the path integral formulation. However, the detailed analysis of this issue will appear in another work.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.0706.2509

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We generalized a class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians which introduced previously by us in such a way in which every member in the class is non-\textit{PT}-symmetric. For every member of the class, the ground state is a constant with zero energy eigen value. Instead of using an infinite set of coupled operator equations to calculate the metric operator we used a simple realization to obtain the class of closed form metric operators corresponding to the class of non-Hermitian and non-\textit{PT}-symmetric Hamiltonians introduced. The trick is that, if ψψψ is an eigen function of HHH, then ϕ=ηψϕ=ηψϕ=ηψ is an eigen function of H†H^{\dagger}H† with the same eigen value. Thus, knowing any pair (ψ,ϕ)(ψ,ϕ)(ψ,ϕ) one can deduce the form of the exact metric operator. We note that, the class of Hamiltonians generalized in this work has the form of that of imaginary magnetic field which can be absorbed by the quasi-gauge transformations represented by metric operators. Accordingly, it is expected that the QQQ operators will disappear for the whole members in the class in the path integral formulation. However, the detailed analysis of this issue will appear in another work.
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We investigate properties of the most general -symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonian of cubic order in the annihilation and creation operators as a ten-parameter family. For various choices of the parameters we systematically construct an exact expression for a metric operator and an isospectral Hermitian counterpart in the same similarity class by exploiting the isomorphism between operator and Moyal products. We elaborate on the subtleties of this approach. For special choices of the ten parameters the Hamiltonian reduces to various models previously studied, such as to the complex cubic potential, the so-called Swanson Hamiltonian or the transformed version of the from below unbounded quartic − x 4 -potential. In addition, it also reduces to various models not considered in the present context, namely the single-site lattice Reggeon model and a transformed version of the massive sextic ± x 6 -potential, which plays an important role as a toy model to identify theories with vanishing cosmological constant.
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This thesis is centred around the role of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians in Physics both at the quantum and classical levels. In our investigations of two-level models we demonstrate [1] the phenomenon of fast transitions developed in the PT -symmetric quantum brachistochrone problem may in fact be attributed to the non-Hermiticity of evolution operator used, rather than to its invariance under PT operation. Transition probabilities are calculated for Hamiltonians which explicitly violate PT -symmetry. When it comes to Hilbert spaces of infinite dimension, starting with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians expressed as linear and quadratic combinations of the generators of the su(1; 1) Lie algebra, we construct [2] Hermitian partners in the same similarity class. Alongside, metrics with respect to which the original Hamiltonians are Hermitian are also constructed, allowing to assign meaning to a large class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians possessing real spectra. The finding of exact results to establish the physical acceptability of other non-Hermitian models may be pursued by other means, especially if the system of interest cannot be expressed in terms of Lie algebraic elements. We also employ [3] a representation of the canonical commutation relations for position and momentum operators in terms of real-valued functions and a noncommutative product rule of differential form. Besides exact solutions, we also compute in a perturbative fashion metrics and isospectral partners for systems of physical interest. Classically, our efforts were concentrated on integrable models presenting PT - symmetry. Because the latter can also establish the reality of energies in classical systems described by Hamiltonian functions, we search for new families of nonlinear differential equations for which the presence of hidden symmetries allows one to assemble exact solutions. We use [4] the Painleve test to check whether deformations of integrable systems preserve integrability. Moreover we compare [5] integrable deformed models, which are thus likely to possess soliton solutions, to a broader class of systems presenting compacton solutions. Finally we study [6] the pole structure of certain real valued nonlinear integrable systems and establish that they behave as interacting particles whose motion can be extended to the complex plane in a PT -symmetric way.
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