Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0807.2607 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

Giving up the ghost

Carl M. Bender, Philip D Mannheim

Published Jul 15, 2008• 60 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The Pais–Uhlenbeck model is a quantum theory described by a higher-derivative field equation. It has been believed for many years that this model possesses ghost states (quantum states of negative norm) and therefore that this model is a physically unacceptable quantum theory. The existence of such ghost states was believed to be attributable to the field equation having more than two derivatives. This paper shows that the Pais–Uhlenbeck model does not possess any ghost states at all and that it is a perfectly acceptable quantum theory. The supposed ghost states in this model arise if the Hamiltonian of the model is (incorrectly) treated as being Dirac Hermitian (invariant under combined matrix transposition and complex conjugation). However, the Hamiltonian is not Dirac Hermitian, but rather it is symmetric. When it is quantized correctly according to the rules of quantum mechanics, the energy spectrum is real and bounded below and all of the quantum states have positive norm.

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/41/30/304018

Related papers

No-Ghost Theorem for the Fourth-Order Derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck Oscillator Model

Carl M. Bender, Philip D. Mannheim

A new realization of the fourth-order derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator is constructed. This realization possesses no states of negative norm and has a real energy spectrum that is bounded below. The key to this construction is the recognition that in this realization the Hamiltonian is not Dirac Hermitian. However, the Hamiltonian is symmetric under combined space reflection P and time reversal T. The Hilbert space that is appropriate for this PT-symmetric Hamiltonian is identified and it is found to have a positive-definite inner product. Furthermore, the time-evolution operator is unitary.

arXiv:0706.0207•Physical Review Letters•Mar 18, 2008•341 citations

Making Sense of Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians

Carl M. Bender

The Hamiltonian H specifies the energy levels and time evolution of a quantum theory. A standard axiom of quantum mechanics requires that H be Hermitian because Hermiticity guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and that time evolution is unitary (probability-preserving). This paper describes an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics in which the mathematical axiom of Hermiticity (transpose + complex conjugate) is replaced by the physically transparent condition of space-time reflection (PT) symmetry. If H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then the spectrum is real. Examples of PT-symmetric non-Hermitian quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians are H=p^2+ix^3 and H=p^2-x^4. Amazingly, the energy levels of these Hamiltonians are all real and positive! In general, if H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then it has another symmetry represented by a linear operator C. Using C, one can construct a time-independent inner product with a positive-definite norm. Thus, PT-symmetric Hamiltonians describe a new class of complex quantum theories having positive probabilities and unitary time evolution. The Lee Model is an example of a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian. The renormalized Lee-model Hamiltonian has a negative-norm "ghost" state because renormalization causes the Hamiltonian to become non-Hermitian. For the past 50 years there have been many attempts to find a physical interpretation for the ghost, but all such attempts failed. Our interpretation of the ghost is simply that the non-Hermitian Lee Model Hamiltonian is PT-symmetric. The C operator for the Lee Model is calculated exactly and in closed form and the ghost is shown to be a physical state having a positive norm. The ideas of PT symmetry are illustrated by using many quantum-mechanical and quantum-field-theoretic models.

•Mar 9, 2007•1,514 citations

Exactly solvable PT -symmetric Hamiltonian having no Hermitian counterpart

Carl M. Bender, Philip D. Mannheim

In a recent paper Bender and Mannheim showed that the unequal-frequency fourth-order derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator model has a realization in which the energy eigenvalues are real and bounded below, the Hilbert-space inner product is positive definite, and time evolution is unitary. Central to that analysis was the recognition that the Hamiltonian ${H}_{\mathrm{PU}}$ of the model is $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ symmetric. This Hamiltonian was mapped to a conventional Dirac-Hermitian Hamiltonian via a similarity transformation whose form was found exactly. The present paper explores the equal-frequency limit of the same model. It is shown that in this limit the similarity transform that was used for the unequal-frequency case becomes singular and that ${H}_{\mathrm{PU}}$ becomes a Jordan-block operator, which is nondiagonalizable and has fewer energy eigenstates than eigenvalues. Such a Hamiltonian has no Hermitian counterpart. Thus, the equal-frequency $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ theory emerges as a distinct realization of quantum mechanics. The quantum mechanics associated with this Jordan-block Hamiltonian can be treated exactly. It is shown that the Hilbert space is complete with a set of nonstationary solutions to the Schr\"odinger equation replacing the missing stationary ones. These nonstationary states are needed to establish that the Jordan-block Hamiltonian of the equal-frequency Pais-Uhlenbeck model generates unitary time evolution.

arXiv:0804.4190•Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Jul 16, 2008•177 citations

PT quantum mechanics - Recent results

Carl M. Bender

Most quantum physicists believe that a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian must be Dirac Hermitian (invariant under matrix transposition and complex conjugation) to be sure that the energy eigenvalues are real and that time evolution is unitary. However, the non-Dirac-hermitian Hamiltonian H = p2+ix3 has a real positive discrete spectrum and generates unitary time evolution and defines a fully consistent and physical quantum theory. Evidently, Dirac Hermiticity is too restrictive. While H = p2+ix3 is not Dirac Hermitian, it is PT symmetric (invariant under combined space reflection P and time reversal T). Another PT-symmetric Hamiltonian whose energy levels are real, positive and discrete is H = p2−x4, which contains an upside-down potential. The quantum mechanics defined by a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian is a complex generalization of ordinary quantum mechanics. When quantum mechanics and quantum field theory are extended into the complex domain, new kinds of theories having strange and remarkable properties emerge. In the past two years some of these properties have been verified in laboratory experiments. Here, we first discuss PT-symmetric Hamiltonians at a simple intuitive level and explain why the energy levels of such Hamiltonians may be real, positive, and discrete. Second, we describe a recent experiment in which the PT phase transition was observed. Third, we briefly mention that PT-symmetric theories can be useful at a fundamental level. While the double-scaling limit of an O(N)-symmetric gφ4 quantum field theory appears to be inconsistent because the critical value of g is negative, this limit is in fact not inconsistent because the critical theory is PT symmetric.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2012•3 citations

Making sense of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians

Carl M. Bender

The Hamiltonian H specifies the energy levels and time evolution of a quantum theory. A standard axiom of quantum mechanics requires that H be Hermitian because Hermiticity guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and that time evolution is unitary (probability-preserving). This paper describes an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics in which the mathematical axiom of Hermiticity (transpose +complex conjugate) is replaced by the physically transparent condition of space–time reflection ( ) symmetry. If H has an unbroken symmetry, then the spectrum is real. Examples of -symmetric non-Hermitian quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians are and . Amazingly, the energy levels of these Hamiltonians are all real and positive! Does a -symmetric Hamiltonian H specify a physical quantum theory in which the norms of states are positive and time evolution is unitary? The answer is that if H has an unbroken symmetry, then it has another symmetry represented by a linear operator . In terms of , one can construct a time-independent inner product with a positive-definite norm. Thus, -symmetric Hamiltonians describe a new class of complex quantum theories having positive probabilities and unitary time evolution. The Lee model provides an excellent example of a -symmetric Hamiltonian. The renormalized Lee-model Hamiltonian has a negative-norm 'ghost' state because renormalization causes the Hamiltonian to become non-Hermitian. For the past 50 years there have been many attempts to find a physical interpretation for the ghost, but all such attempts failed. The correct interpretation of the ghost is simply that the non-Hermitian Lee-model Hamiltonian is -symmetric. The operator for the Lee model is calculated exactly and in closed form and the ghost is shown to be a physical state having a positive norm. The ideas of symmetry are illustrated by using many quantum-mechanical and quantum-field-theoretic models.

arXiv:hep-th/0703096•Reports on Progress in Physics•May 30, 2007•2,981 citations

Antilinear symmetry and the ghost problem in quantum field theory

Philip D. Mannheim

Abstract The recognition that the eigenvalues of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian could all be real if the Hamiltonian had an antilinear symmetry such as PT stimulated new insight into the underlying structure of quantum mechanics. Specifically, it led to the realization that Hilbert space could be richer than the established Dirac approach of constructing inner products out of ket vectors and their Hermitian conjugate bra vectors. With antilinear symmetry one must instead build inner products out of ket vectors and their antilinear conjugates, and it is these inner products that would be time independent in the non-Hermitian but antilinearly symmetric case even as the standard Dirac inner products would not be. Moreover, and in a sense quite remarkably, antilinear symmetry could address not only the temporal behavior of the inner product but also the issue of its overall sign, with antilinear symmetry being capable of yielding a positive inner product in situations such as fourth-order derivative quantum field theories where the standard Dirac inner product is found to have ghostlike negative signature. Antilinear symmetry thus solves the ghost problem in such theories by showing that they are being formulated in the wrong Hilbert space, with antilinear symmetry providing a Hilbert space that is ghost free. Antilinear symmetry does not actually get rid of the ghost states. Rather, it shows that the reasoning that led one to think that ghosts were present in the first place is faulty. Implications of our results for constructing unitary quantum theories of gravity are presented.

arXiv:2104.03708•Journal of Physics Conference Series•Oct 1, 2021•2 citations
The Pais–Uhlenbeck model is a quantum theory described by a higher-derivative field equation. It has been believed for many years that this model possesses ghost states (quantum states of negative norm) and therefore that this model is a physically unacceptable quantum theory. The existence of such ghost states was believed to be attributable to the field equation having more than two derivatives. This paper shows that the Pais–Uhlenbeck model does not possess any ghost states at all and that it is a perfectly acceptable quantum theory. The supposed ghost states in this model arise if the Hamiltonian of the model is (incorrectly) treated as being Dirac Hermitian (invariant under combined matrix transposition and complex conjugation). However, the Hamiltonian is not Dirac Hermitian, but rather it is symmetric. When it is quantized correctly according to the rules of quantum mechanics, the energy spectrum is real and bounded below and all of the quantum states have positive norm.
A new realization of the fourth-order derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator is constructed. This realization possesses no states of negative norm and has a real energy spectrum that is bounded below. The key to this construction is the recognition that in this realization the Hamiltonian is not Dirac Hermitian. However, the Hamiltonian is symmetric under combined space reflection P and time reversal T. The Hilbert space that is appropriate for this PT-symmetric Hamiltonian is identified and it is found to have a positive-definite inner product. Furthermore, the time-evolution operator is unitary.
The Hamiltonian H specifies the energy levels and time evolution of a quantum theory. A standard axiom of quantum mechanics requires that H be Hermitian because Hermiticity guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and that time evolution is unitary (probability-preserving). This paper describes an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics in which the mathematical axiom of Hermiticity (transpose + complex conjugate) is replaced by the physically transparent condition of space-time reflection (PT) symmetry. If H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then the spectrum is real. Examples of PT-symmetric non-Hermitian quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians are H=p^2+ix^3 and H=p^2-x^4. Amazingly, the energy levels of these Hamiltonians are all real and positive! In general, if H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then it has another symmetry represented by a linear operator C. Using C, one can construct a time-independent inner product with a positive-definite norm. Thus, PT-symmetric Hamiltonians describe a new class of complex quantum theories having positive probabilities and unitary time evolution. The Lee Model is an example of a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian. The renormalized Lee-model Hamiltonian has a negative-norm "ghost" state because renormalization causes the Hamiltonian to become non-Hermitian. For the past 50 years there have been many attempts to find a physical interpretation for the ghost, but all such attempts failed. Our interpretation of the ghost is simply that the non-Hermitian Lee Model Hamiltonian is PT-symmetric. The C operator for the Lee Model is calculated exactly and in closed form and the ghost is shown to be a physical state having a positive norm. The ideas of PT symmetry are illustrated by using many quantum-mechanical and quantum-field-theoretic models.
In a recent paper Bender and Mannheim showed that the unequal-frequency fourth-order derivative Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator model has a realization in which the energy eigenvalues are real and bounded below, the Hilbert-space inner product is positive definite, and time evolution is unitary. Central to that analysis was the recognition that the Hamiltonian HPU{H}_{\mathrm{PU}}HPU​ of the model is PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}PT symmetric. This Hamiltonian was mapped to a conventional Dirac-Hermitian Hamiltonian via a similarity transformation whose form was found exactly. The present paper explores the equal-frequency limit of the same model. It is shown that in this limit the similarity transform that was used for the unequal-frequency case becomes singular and that HPU{H}_{\mathrm{PU}}HPU​ becomes a Jordan-block operator, which is nondiagonalizable and has fewer energy eigenstates than eigenvalues. Such a Hamiltonian has no Hermitian counterpart. Thus, the equal-frequency PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}PT theory emerges as a distinct realization of quantum mechanics. The quantum mechanics associated with this Jordan-block Hamiltonian can be treated exactly. It is shown that the Hilbert space is complete with a set of nonstationary solutions to the Schr\"odinger equation replacing the missing stationary ones. These nonstationary states are needed to establish that the Jordan-block Hamiltonian of the equal-frequency Pais-Uhlenbeck model generates unitary time evolution.
Most quantum physicists believe that a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian must be Dirac Hermitian (invariant under matrix transposition and complex conjugation) to be sure that the energy eigenvalues are real and that time evolution is unitary. However, the non-Dirac-hermitian Hamiltonian H = p2+ix3 has a real positive discrete spectrum and generates unitary time evolution and defines a fully consistent and physical quantum theory. Evidently, Dirac Hermiticity is too restrictive. While H = p2+ix3 is not Dirac Hermitian, it is PT symmetric (invariant under combined space reflection P and time reversal T). Another PT-symmetric Hamiltonian whose energy levels are real, positive and discrete is H = p2−x4, which contains an upside-down potential. The quantum mechanics defined by a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian is a complex generalization of ordinary quantum mechanics. When quantum mechanics and quantum field theory are extended into the complex domain, new kinds of theories having strange and remarkable properties emerge. In the past two years some of these properties have been verified in laboratory experiments. Here, we first discuss PT-symmetric Hamiltonians at a simple intuitive level and explain why the energy levels of such Hamiltonians may be real, positive, and discrete. Second, we describe a recent experiment in which the PT phase transition was observed. Third, we briefly mention that PT-symmetric theories can be useful at a fundamental level. While the double-scaling limit of an O(N)-symmetric gφ4 quantum field theory appears to be inconsistent because the critical value of g is negative, this limit is in fact not inconsistent because the critical theory is PT symmetric.
The Hamiltonian H specifies the energy levels and time evolution of a quantum theory. A standard axiom of quantum mechanics requires that H be Hermitian because Hermiticity guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and that time evolution is unitary (probability-preserving). This paper describes an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics in which the mathematical axiom of Hermiticity (transpose +complex conjugate) is replaced by the physically transparent condition of space–time reflection ( ) symmetry. If H has an unbroken symmetry, then the spectrum is real. Examples of -symmetric non-Hermitian quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians are and . Amazingly, the energy levels of these Hamiltonians are all real and positive! Does a -symmetric Hamiltonian H specify a physical quantum theory in which the norms of states are positive and time evolution is unitary? The answer is that if H has an unbroken symmetry, then it has another symmetry represented by a linear operator . In terms of , one can construct a time-independent inner product with a positive-definite norm. Thus, -symmetric Hamiltonians describe a new class of complex quantum theories having positive probabilities and unitary time evolution. The Lee model provides an excellent example of a -symmetric Hamiltonian. The renormalized Lee-model Hamiltonian has a negative-norm 'ghost' state because renormalization causes the Hamiltonian to become non-Hermitian. For the past 50 years there have been many attempts to find a physical interpretation for the ghost, but all such attempts failed. The correct interpretation of the ghost is simply that the non-Hermitian Lee-model Hamiltonian is -symmetric. The operator for the Lee model is calculated exactly and in closed form and the ghost is shown to be a physical state having a positive norm. The ideas of symmetry are illustrated by using many quantum-mechanical and quantum-field-theoretic models.
Abstract The recognition that the eigenvalues of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian could all be real if the Hamiltonian had an antilinear symmetry such as PT stimulated new insight into the underlying structure of quantum mechanics. Specifically, it led to the realization that Hilbert space could be richer than the established Dirac approach of constructing inner products out of ket vectors and their Hermitian conjugate bra vectors. With antilinear symmetry one must instead build inner products out of ket vectors and their antilinear conjugates, and it is these inner products that would be time independent in the non-Hermitian but antilinearly symmetric case even as the standard Dirac inner products would not be. Moreover, and in a sense quite remarkably, antilinear symmetry could address not only the temporal behavior of the inner product but also the issue of its overall sign, with antilinear symmetry being capable of yielding a positive inner product in situations such as fourth-order derivative quantum field theories where the standard Dirac inner product is found to have ghostlike negative signature. Antilinear symmetry thus solves the ghost problem in such theories by showing that they are being formulated in the wrong Hilbert space, with antilinear symmetry providing a Hilbert space that is ghost free. Antilinear symmetry does not actually get rid of the ghost states. Rather, it shows that the reasoning that led one to think that ghosts were present in the first place is faulty. Implications of our results for constructing unitary quantum theories of gravity are presented.