The quantum Rabi model has been a useful and pedagogical quantum model in the past decades, sufficiently simple to be solved analytically and intuitively understood, while sufficiently complex as to provide highly non-trivial eigenstates and a practical description of quantum optical platforms for quantum technologies. The Dirac equation, especially when restricted to 1+1 dimensions, is a simple toy model as well, but its easy diagonalization enabled historically to connect the electron spin to the fermionic statistics, among others. Both models share a symmetry at the purely mathematical level, namely, the spectra of each one has a dual equivalent under energy sign change, that I name a mirror dual symmetry. Usually, one quantizes these equations by assuming a ground state energy for the bosonic mode. But there is another option for the interpretation of the Hamiltonian, as I will argue, that is to assume a total symmetry principle, namely, that the total energy is zero at all times, for either the quantum Rabi model or the Dirac equation, and impose the constraint that every positive energy excitation has a mirror excitation of negative energy. This possibility, which was, apparently, ignored in the times when Paul Dirac was studying the implications of his equation, would avoid the worries in the scientific community that the negative energy solutions would decay until minus infinity, thus obviating the necessity to build a highly artificial Dirac sea, and instead impose what has always been successful in Physics, which is the enforcement of symmetry principles. Assuming a total symmetry principle, many of the problems of current Physics, such as renormalization of quantum gravity, dark matter, and dark energy, may possibly be automatically solved. One obvious result would be the automatic cancellation of the zero point energy.
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Invited article for the Special Issue Focus on Quantum Rabi Models: After 90 Years and Into the Future
The quantum Rabi model has been a useful and pedagogical quantum model in the past decades, sufficiently simple to be solved analytically and intuitively understood, while sufficiently complex as to provide highly non-trivial eigenstates and a practical description of quantum optical platforms for quantum technologies. The Dirac equation, especially when restricted to 1+1 dimensions, is a simple toy model as well, but its easy diagonalization enabled historically to connect the electron spin to the fermionic statistics, among others. Both models share a symmetry at the purely mathematical level, namely, the spectra of each one has a dual equivalent under energy sign change, that I name a mirror dual symmetry. Usually, one quantizes these equations by assuming a ground state energy for the bosonic mode. But there is another option for the interpretation of the Hamiltonian, as I will argue, that is to assume a total symmetry principle, namely, that the total energy is zero at all times, for either the quantum Rabi model or the Dirac equation, and impose the constraint that every positive energy excitation has a mirror excitation of negative energy. This possibility, which was, apparently, ignored in the times when Paul Dirac was studying the implications of his equation, would avoid the worries in the scientific community that the negative energy solutions would decay until minus infinity, thus obviating the necessity to build a highly artificial Dirac sea, and instead impose what has always been successful in Physics, which is the enforcement of symmetry principles. Assuming a total symmetry principle, many of the problems of current Physics, such as renormalization of quantum gravity, dark matter, and dark energy, may possibly be automatically solved. One obvious result would be the automatic cancellation of the zero point energy.
Abstract This paper offers educational insight into the Dirac equation, examining its historical context and contrasting it with the earlier Schrödinger and Klein–Gordon equations. The comparison highlights their Lorentz transformation symmetry and potential probabilistic interpretations. We explicitly solve the free particle dynamics in Dirac’s model, revealing the emergence of solutions with negative energy. In this discussion, we examine the Dirac Sea Hypothesis and explore the inherent helicity of the solutions. Additionally, we demonstrate how the Dirac equation accounts for spin and derive the Pauli equation in the non-relativistic limit. Through the Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation, we reveal how the equation incorporates spin–orbit interaction and other relativistic effects, ultimately leading to the hydrogen fine structure. A section on relativistic covariant notation is included to emphasize the invariance of the Dirac equation, along with more refined formulations of both the Klein–Gordon and Dirac equations. Designed for undergraduate students with an interest in the Dirac equation, this resource provides a historical perspective without being purely theoretical. Our approach underscores the significance of a pedagogical method that combines historical and comparative elements to profoundly understand the role of the Dirac equation in modern physics.
The quantum Rabi model is a model in quantum optics used to describe the interaction between a two-level atom and a single-level photon field.This model, described in 1963 by Jaynes and Cummings, is the fully quantized version of the original semi-classical model proposed in 1936 by Rabi.In previous years, the study of the properties of Hamiltonian of the quantum Rabi model and its energy levels (eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian) has been relegated mainly for two reasons.The first one was the belief that the quantum Rabi model was not an exactly solvable model, that is, that its energy levels could not be described analytically.The second reason is that in the parameter regime achievable at the time in experiments and applications, the quantum Rabi model could be approximated successfully by the Jaynes-Cummings model, a simpler model which is known to be exactly solvable.Both situations changed in recent years.In 2011, Daniel Braak proved the exact-solvability of the quantum Rabi model by constructing analytical solutions and defining a transcendental function, the G-function, whose zeros determine all the spectrum (with the exception of a (possible finite) set of exceptional eigenvalues).This pioneering technique has since then been successfully applied to show the exact-solvability of several models in quantum optics.On the other hand, due to the advances in experimental physics, starting from the first decade of this century, experiments have been steadily reaching parameter regimes where the Jaynes-Cummings model becomes unsuitable for approximation and in 2014, the experiments by Maissen et al reached regimes where it is imperative to consider the full Hamiltonian of the quantum Rabi model.Adding to this, recently there has also been proposals for applications of the quantum Rabi model in quantum information theory and quantum computing.For these reasons, there has been a large amount of research done in theoretical and experimental physics, and, more recently, mathematics on the subject of the quantum Rabi model, its generalizations and applications.In this thesis, we study the asymmetric quantum Rabi model, one of the generalizations of the quantum Rabi model.In this generalization, an additional non-trivial interaction term is introduced in the Hamiltonian, breaking the Z 2Z-symmetry of the quantum Rabi Hamiltonian.The presence of this symmetry in the quantum Rabi model explains the presence of crossings in the energy levels (degeneracies in the spectrum), so a priori there was no reason to expect degeneracies in the spectrum of the asymmetric version.In this work, we show that when the coefficient of the symmetry-breaking term is halfinteger, degeneracies appear in the spectrum of the asymmetric quantum Rabi model.This is done by studying the properties of the constraint polynomials, polynomials appearing in certain conditions that the parameters of the model must satisfy in order to have certain eigenvalues, called Juddian eigenvalues.The spectrum of the asymmetric quantum Rabi model is divided into different sets, an infinite set of regular eigenvalues, the zeros of the G-function and the exceptional eigenvalues, not captured as zeros of the G-function.The exceptional spectrum is further classified into Juddian and non-Juddian, according to the type of solution in the Segal-Bargmann space realization.These solutions are also described in terms of the sl 2 picture of the Hamiltonian in terms of irreducible representations of sl 2 .The case for Juddian and regular eigenvalues was already known, and in this thesis we complete the picture for the non-Juddian eigenvalues.Another main result of this work is to characterize the degeneracies of the asymmetric quantum Rabi model in terms of the types of eigenvalues and the parameters.Furthermore, by carefully studying the poles of the G-function, we define a new G-function whose zeros give the full spectrum of the asymmetric quantum Rabi model.Finally, we present a study on continued fractions expansions of integer powers of the Napier constant e with a nice representation and good convergence properties.This study is a byproduct of the study of certain orthogonal polynomial families related to the constraint polynomials of the AQRM.
The introduction of an asymmetric term into the quantum Rabi model generally lifts energy-level degeneracies. However, when the asymmetry parameter takes specific multiples of the bosonic mode frequency, level degeneracies reappear−a phenomenon referred to as the hidden symmetry in the asymmetric quantum Rabi model. Identifying the origin of this hidden symmetry and its explicit operator form constitutes two central tasks in studying this system. Here, we investigate the origin of this hidden symmetry using the method of two successive diagonalizations, with a focus on physics in the regime where the ratio between the two-level splitting Δ and the mode frequency ω satisfies Δ/ω≫1. We find that the hidden symmetry stems from energy-level matching within the asymmetric double-well potential, a picture strongly supported by the wavefunctions of both the ground and excited states. Moreover, the emergence of an excited-state quantum phase transition is identified and qualitatively discussed, which arises from the breaking and restoration of this hidden symmetry across different coupling regimes. Our results provide deeper insight into the physics of the asymmetric quantum Rabi model, particularly in the previously less-explored strong-coupling regime where Δ/ω≫1.
Zisman-Stueckelberg-Feynman (ZSF) interpretation, by describing antiparticles as negative-energy particles evolving backward in ordinary time, makes relativistic quantum mechanics (RQM) covariant, but relativistic theory was not agreed with it. Consistent agreement with ZSF interpretation led to the time-symmetric relativity theory (TSRT) (Article 1). In TSRT, relativity principle is extended to rest frames of negative-energy particles going into lower light cone, and symmetry group is extended to the general Lorentz group O(1,3) with 4-inversion. In this article, a time-symmetric RQM (TS RQM) based on TSRT is formulated. The states of negative-energy particles in their rest frames are transformed into usual frames with reflecting time axis. In Hamilton-Jacobi formalism, translational symmetry leads to a general relativistic wave equation for components of wave function of any free particle with a quadratic Hamiltonian. Using in it relativistic relationship between energy and momentum gives Klein-Gordon equation, which yields a general average of 4-momentum and general probability current, time components of which describe currents in both directions of time axis and are negative at negative energy. Special wave equations with first time derivative (Duffin-Kemmer-Petiou for spins 0 and 1, and Dirac for spin 1/2) account for mixing of wave function components due to spin and interactions. In TSRT, 4-vector currents change sign upon 4-inversion, which improves theories of bosons and fermions, eliminating former paradoxes and errors. Time-symmetric transition amplitudes in propagator approach lead to causal propagators and usual diagram technique. Total energy of system of particles in loop diagrams creates external gravitational field, which slows down proper times relative to world time until they freeze at Planck length, gravitational radius of system. This leads to gravitational regularization of loop diagrams, making them finite, and fields of Standard Model (except for scalar field) and quantum gravity renormalizable. Quantization of fields in TSRT is described in Article 3.
Negative energy states are applied in Krein space quantization approach to achieve a naturally renormalized theory. For example, this theory by taking the full set of Dirac solutions, could be able to remove the propagator Green function's divergences and automatically without any normal ordering, to vanish the expected value for vacuum state energy. However, since it is a purely mathematical theory, the results are under debate and some efforts are devoted to include more physics in the concept. Whereas Krein quantization is a pure mathematical approach, complex quantum Hamiltonian dynamics is based on strong foundations of Hamilton-Jacobi (H-J) equations and therefore on classical dynamics. Based on complex quantum Hamilton-Jacobi theory, complex spacetime is a natural consequence of including quantum effects in the relativistic mechanics, and is a bridge connecting the causality in special relativity and the non-locality in quantum mechanics, i.e. extending special relativity to the complex domain leads to relativistic quantum mechanics. So that, considering both relativistic and quantum effects, the Klein-Gordon equation could be derived as a special form of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation. Characterizing the complex time involved in an entangled energy state and writing the general form of energy considering quantum potential, two sets of positive and negative energies will be realized. The new states enable us to study the spacetime in a relativistic entangled "space-time" state leading to 12 extra wave functions than the four solutions of Dirac equation for a free particle. Arguing the entanglement of particle and antiparticle leads to a contradiction with experiments. So, in order to correct the results, along with a previous investigation [1], we realize particles and antiparticles as physical entities with positive energy instead of considering antiparticles with negative energy. As an application of modified descriptions for entangled (space-time) states, the original version of EPR paradox can be discussed and the correct answer can be verified based on the strong rooted complex quantum Hamilton-Jacobi theory [2-27] and as another example we can use the negative energy states, to remove the Klein's paradox without the need of any further explanations or justifications like backwardly moving electrons. Finally, comparing the two approaches, we can point out to the existence of a connection between quantum Hamiltonian dynamics, standard quantum field theory, and Krein space quantization [28-43].
“Despite almost a century’s worth of study, it is still unclear how general relativity (GR) and quantum theory (QT) should be unified into a consistent theory. The conventional approach is to retain the foundational principles of QT, such as the superposition principle, and modify GR. This is referred to as ‘quantizing gravity’, resulting in a theory of ‘quantum gravity’. The opposite approach is ‘gravitizing QT’ where we attempt to keep the principles of GR, such as the equivalence principle, and consider how this leads to modifications of QT. What we are most lacking in understanding which route to take, if either, is experimental guidance. Here we consider using the Dirac–Pauli representation of free Dirac equation to search for the clues. In particular, we study how the double-slit diffraction experiment, when only one Dirac particle (‘say’ electron) at a time is in the apparatus, could test a gravitizing QT proposal in which the wavefunction collapse emerges on the detector screen from the Dirac–Pauli representation, as an objective process, resolving the measurement problem of QT.” [1] We found that the Dirac–Pauli representation is inherently a unified theory embodying a gravitizing QT proposal that Dirac–Pauli representation as wave nature is manifestation of inertial mass and the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation as particle nature is manifestation of gravitational mass such that the fact, that same physics is involved in these two representations, is simply the validity and exhibition of the principle of equivalence, of GR, in QT. [1] Richard Howl et al 2019 New J. Phys. 21 043047 DOI 10.1088/1367-2630/ab104a