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arXiv:1805.08104 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

PT-symmetric quantum graphs

D U Matrasulov, K.K. Sabirov, J R Yusupov

Published Feb 1, 2019• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract We consider PT-symmetric quantum graphs, in which the branching points provide PT-symmetric boundary conditions for the Schrödinger equation on a graph. For such branched quantum wires, we derive general boundary conditions, which keep the Hamiltonian as PT-symmetric with real eigenvalues and positively defined norm of the eigenfunctions. Secular equations for finding the eigenvalues of the quantum graph are derived. Breaking the Kirchhoff rule at the branching points in such systems is shown. Experimental realization of PT-symmetric quantum graphs on branched optical waveguides is discussed.

DOI
10.1088/1751-8121/ab03f8

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Abstract We consider PT-symmetric quantum graphs, in which the branching points provide PT-symmetric boundary conditions for the Schrödinger equation on a graph. For such branched quantum wires, we derive general boundary conditions, which keep the Hamiltonian as PT-symmetric with real eigenvalues and positively defined norm of the eigenfunctions. Secular equations for finding the eigenvalues of the quantum graph are derived. Breaking the Kirchhoff rule at the branching points in such systems is shown. Experimental realization of PT-symmetric quantum graphs on branched optical waveguides is discussed.
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We recall the solvable [Formula: see text]-symmetric quantum square well on an interval of x ∈ (–L, L) := [Formula: see text] (with an α-dependent non-Hermiticity given by Robin boundary conditions) and generalize it. In essence, we just replace the support interval [Formula: see text] (reinterpreted as an equilateral two-pointed star graph with Kirchhoff matching at the vertex x = 0) with a q-pointed equilateral star graph [Formula: see text] endowed with the simplest complex-rotation-symmetric external α-dependent Robin boundary conditions. The remarkably compact form of the secular determinant is then deduced. Its analysis reveals that (i) at any integer q = 2, 3, …, there exists the same q-independent and infinite subfamily of the real energies, and (ii) at any special q = 2, 6, 10, …, there exists another, additional, q-dependent infinite subfamily of the real energies. In the spirit of the recently proposed dynamical construction of the Hilbert space of a quantum system, the physical bound-state interpretation of these eigenvalues is finally proposed.
Abstract In this paper, we discuss the concept of quantum graphs with transparent vertices by considering the case, where the graph interacts with an external time-independent field. In particular, we address the problem of transparent boundary conditions for quantum graphs, building on previous works on transparent boundary conditions for the stationary Schrödinger equation on a line. Physically relevant constraints that make the vertex transparent under boundary conditions in the form of (weight) continuity and Kirchhoff rules are derived using two approaches, where transparent boundary conditions for the time-independent Schrödinger equation are found. The latter is derived by extending the transparent boundary condition concept to the time-independent Schrödinger equation on driven quantum graphs. For the constant potential, these constraints are also obtained using the scattering approach. We also discuss how the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a quantum graph are influenced not only by its topology, but also by the shape/type of a potential when an external field is involved.
We formulate and discuss one-particle quantum scattering theory on an arbitrary finite graph with n open ends and where we define the Hamiltonian to be (minus) the Laplace operator with general boundary conditions at the vertices. This results in a scattering theory with n channels. The corresponding on-shell S -matrix formed by the reflection and transmission amplitudes for incoming plane waves of energy E>0 is given explicitly in terms of the boundary conditions and the lengths of the internal lines. It is shown to be unitary, which may be viewed as the quantum version of Kirchhoff's law. We exhibit covariance and symmetry properties. It is symmetric if the boundary conditions are real. Also there is a duality transformation on the set of boundary conditions and the lengths of the internal lines such that the low-energy behaviour of one theory gives the high-energy behaviour of the transformed theory. Finally, we provide a composition rule by which the on-shell S -matrix of a graph is factorizable in terms of the S -matrices of its subgraphs. All proofs use only known facts from the theory of self-adjoint extensions, standard linear algebra, complex function theory and elementary arguments from the theory of Hermitian symplectic forms.
Based on the PT-symmetric quantum theory, the concepts of PT-frame, PT-symmetric operator and CPT-frame on a Hilbert space K and for an operator on K are proposed. It is proved that the spectrum and point spectrum of a PT-symmetric linear operator are both symmetric with respect to the real axis and the eigenvalues of an unbroken PT-symmetric operator are real. For a linear operator H on C d , it is proved that H has unbroken PT-symmetry if and only if it has d different eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenstates are eigenstates of PT. Given a CPT-frame on K, a new positive inner product on K is induced and called CPT-inner product. Te relationship between the CPT-adjoint and the Dirac adjoint of a densely defined linear operator is derived, and it is proved that an operator which has a bounded CPT-frame is CPT-Hermitian if and only if it is T-symmetric, in that case, it is similar to a Hermitian operator. The existence of an operator C consisting of a CPT-frame is discussed. These concepts and results will serve a mathematical discussion about PT-symmetric quantum mechanics.
Recently, much research has been carried out on Hamiltonians that are not Hermitian but are symmetric under space-time reflection, that is, Hamiltonians that exhibit PT symmetry. Investigations of the Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem associated with such Hamiltonians have shown that in many cases the entire energy spectrum is real and positive and that the eigenfunctions form an orthogonal and complete basis. Furthermore, the quantum theories determined by such Hamiltonians have been shown to be consistent in the sense that the probabilities are positive and the dynamical trajectories are unitary. However, the geometrical structures that underlie quantum theories formulated in terms of such Hamiltonians have hitherto not been fully understood. This paper studies in detail the geometric properties of a Hilbert space endowed with a parity structure and analyses the characteristics of a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian and its eigenstates. A canonical relationship between a PT-symmetric operator and a Hermitian operator is established. It is shown that the quadratic form corresponding to the parity operator, in particular, gives rise to a natural partition of the Hilbert space into two halves corresponding to states having positive and negative PT norm. The indefiniteness of the norm can be circumvented by introducing a symmetry operator C that defines a positive definite inner product by means of a CPT conjugation operation.