We propose a unique way to choose a new inner product in a Hilbert space with respect to which an originally non-self-adjoint operator similar to a self-adjoint operator becomes self-adjoint. Our construction is based on minimizing a 'Hilbert-Schmidt distance' to the original inner product among the entire class of admissible inner products. We prove that either the minimizer exists and is unique or it does not exist at all. In the former case, we derive a system of Euler-Lagrange equations by which the optimal inner product is determined. A sufficient condition for the existence of the unique minimally anisotropic metric is obtained. The abstract results are supported by examples in which the optimal inner product does not coincide with the most popular choice fixed through a charge-like symmetry.
We propose a unique way to choose a new inner product in a Hilbert space with respect to which an originally non-self-adjoint operator similar to a self-adjoint operator becomes self-adjoint. Our construction is based on minimizing a 'Hilbert-Schmidt distance' to the original inner product among the entire class of admissible inner products. We prove that either the minimizer exists and is unique or it does not exist at all. In the former case, we derive a system of Euler-Lagrange equations by which the optimal inner product is determined. A sufficient condition for the existence of the unique minimally anisotropic metric is obtained. The abstract results are supported by examples in which the optimal inner product does not coincide with the most popular choice fixed through a charge-like symmetry.
Abstract In the conventional Schrödinger’s formulation of quantum mechanics the unitary evolution of a state ψ is controlled, in Hilbert space <?CDATA L?> L , by a Hamiltonian ɧ which must be self-adjoint. In the recent, “quasi-Hermitian” reformulation of the theory one replaces ɧ by its isospectral but non-Hermitian avatar H = Ω−1 𝖍Ω with Ω†Ω = Θ ≠ I. Although acting in another, manifestly unphysical Hilbert space <?CDATA H?> H , the amended Hamiltonian H ≠ H † can be perceived as self-adjoint with respect to the amended inner-product metric Θ. In our paper motivated by a generic technical “user-unfriendliness” of the non-Hermiticity of H we introduce and describe a specific new family of Hamiltonians H for which the metrics Θ become available in closed form.
In the conventional Schrödinger's formulation of quantum mechanics the unitary evolution of a state ψ is controlled, in Hilbert space L, by a Hamiltonian h which must be self-adjoint. In the recent, ``quasi-Hermitian'' reformulation of the theory one replaces h by its isospectral but non-Hermitian avatar H=Ω−1hΩ with Ω†Ω=Θ=I. Although acting in another, manifestly unphysical Hilbert space H, the amended Hamiltonian H=H† can be perceived as self-adjoint with respect to the amended inner-product metric Θ. In our paper motivated by a generic technical ``user-unfriendliness'' of the non-Hermiticity of H we introduce and describe a specific new family of Hamiltonians H for which the metrics Θ become available in closed form.
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.
We present a systematic perturbative construction of the most general metric operator (and positive-definite inner product) for quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians of the standard form, , in one dimension. We show that this problem is equivalent to solving an infinite system of iteratively decoupled hyperbolic partial differential equations in (1 + 1)-dimensions. For the case that v ( x ) is purely imaginary, the latter have the form of a nonhomogeneous wave equation which admits an exact solution. We apply our general method to obtain the most general metric operator for the imaginary cubic potential, v ( x ) = i x 3 . This reveals an infinite class of previously unknown - as well as non- -inner products. We compute the physical observables of the corresponding unitary quantum system and determine the underlying classical system. Our results for the imaginary cubic potential show that, unlike the quantum system, the corresponding classical system is not sensitive to the choice of the metric operator. As another application of our method we give a complete characterization of the pseudo-Hermitian canonical quantization of a free particle moving in that is consistent with the usual choice for the quantum Hamiltonian. Finally, we discuss subtleties involved with higher dimensions and systems having a fixed length scale.
A quasi-Hermitian operator is an operator that is similar to its adjoint in some sense, via a metric operator, i.e., a strictly positive self-adjoint operator. Whereas those metric operators are in general assumed to be bounded, we analyze the structure generated by unbounded metric operators in a Hilbert space. Following our previous work, we introduce several generalizations of the notion of similarity between operators. Then we explore systematically the various types of quasi-Hermitian operators, bounded or not. Finally, we discuss their application in the so-called pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics.
Abstract In 1992, Scholtz et al. ( Ann. Phys., 213 (1992) 74) showed that a set of non-Hermitian operators can represent observables of a closed unitary quantum system, provided only that its elements are quasi-Hermitian ( i.e. , roughly speaking, Hermitian with respect to an ad hoc inner-product metric). We show that such a version of quantum mechanics admits a simultaneous closed-form representation of the metric and of the observables , in terms of auxiliary operators Z k with . At N = 2 the formalism degenerates to the well-known quantum mechanics using factorized metric , where is parity and where is charge.