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arXiv:0912.1678 · Journal of Mathematical Physics

An alternative construction of the positive inner product for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians: Examples

Ashok Das, L. Greenwood

Published Apr 1, 2010• 21 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In this paper, we build on our earlier proposal for the construction of a positive inner product for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians and present examples to clarify the procedure. We focus on two detailed calculations where the method is used, namely, a simple (generalized 2×2 matrix) pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian, which can be diagonalized, and a second system where the Hamiltonian cannot be diagonalized, but can be described as a perturbation of the harmonic oscillator. When the quantum mechanical system cannot be diagonalized exactly, our construction can be carried out perturbatively and we develop the general formalism for such a perturbative calculation systematically (for real eigenvalues).

DOI
10.1063/1.3373551

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In this paper, we build on our earlier proposal for the construction of a positive inner product for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians and present examples to clarify the procedure. We focus on two detailed calculations where the method is used, namely, a simple (generalized 2×2 matrix) pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian, which can be diagonalized, and a second system where the Hamiltonian cannot be diagonalized, but can be described as a perturbation of the harmonic oscillator. When the quantum mechanical system cannot be diagonalized exactly, our construction can be carried out perturbatively and we develop the general formalism for such a perturbative calculation systematically (for real eigenvalues).
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We show that a diagonalizable (non-Hermitian) Hamiltonian H is pseudo-Hermitian if and only if it has an antilinear symmetry, i.e., a symmetry generated by an invertible antilinear operator. This implies that the eigenvalues of H are real or come in complex conjugate pairs if and only if H possesses such a symmetry. In particular, the reality of the spectrum of H implies the presence of an antilinear symmetry. We further show that the spectrum of H is real if and only if there is a positive-definite inner-product on the Hilbert space with respect to which H is Hermitian or alternatively there is a pseudo-canonical transformation of the Hilbert space that maps H into a Hermitian operator.
A possible method to investigate non-Hermitian Hamiltonians is suggested through finding a Hermitian operator η+ and defining the annihilation and creation operators to be η+ -pseudo-Hermitian adjoint to each other. The operator η+ represents the η+ -pseudo-Hermiticity of Hamiltonians. As an example, a non-Hermitian and non-PT-symmetric Hamiltonian with imaginary linear coordinate and linear momentum terms is constructed and analyzed in detail. The operator η+ is found, based on which, a real spectrum and a positive-definite inner product, together with the probability explanation of wave functions, the orthogonality of eigenstates, and the unitarity of time evolution, are obtained for the non-Hermitian and non-PT-symmetric Hamiltonian. Moreover, this Hamiltonian turns out to be coupled when it is extended to the canonical noncommutative space with noncommutative spatial coordinate operators and noncommutative momentum operators as well. Our method is applicable to the coupled Hamiltonian. Then the first and second order noncommutative corrections of energy levels are calculated, and in particular the reality of energy spectra, the positive-definiteness of inner products, and the related properties (the probability explanation of wave functions, the orthogonality of eigenstates, and the unitarity of time evolution) are found not to be altered by the noncommutativity.
Abstract The Hamiltonian of a conventional quantum system is Hermitian, which ensures real spectra of the Hamiltonian and unitary evolution of the system. However, real spectra are just the necessary conditions for a Hamiltonian to be Hermitian. In this paper, we discuss the metric operators for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian which is similar to its adjoint. We first present some properties of the metric operators for pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians and obtain a sufficient and necessary condition for an invertible operator to be a metric operator for a given pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian. When the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian has real spectra, we provide a new method such that any given metric operator can be transformed into the same positive-definite one and the new inner product with respect to the positive-definite metric operator is well defined. Finally, we illustrate the results obtained with an example.