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arXiv:2607.19737

The Quantum Adiabatic Theorem for Non-Hermitian Dynamics

G. M. V. S. Aponso, B. P. W. Fernando, K. K. W. A. S. Kumara, R. P. K. De Silva

quant-phmath.APSubmitted Jul 22, 2026• Announced Jul 23, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

We establish a quantitative adiabatic estimate for a class of finite-dimensional non-Hermitian Schrödinger dynamics. The original non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is assumed to be diagonalizable with real spectrum and non-crossing eigenvalues. We then construct a dynamically compatible time-dependent metric operator, and its positive square root defines a Dyson map. The associated Dyson-transformed Hamiltonian is Hermitian. When this Dyson-transformed Hamiltonian satisfies the Hermitian adiabatic assumption, the standard resolvent-projection method gives an explicit adiabatic estimate in the Hermitian representation. Pulling this estimate back through the Dyson map gives an approximation in the original non-Hermitian representation. The resulting Dyson-pulled-back projections are then compared with the spectral projections of the original non-Hermitian Hamiltonian by using a contour-resolvent estimate. The final bound contains two contributions: the pulled-back Hermitian adiabatic error and the projection-comparison error. A two-level non-Hermitian model is presented to illustrate the hypotheses of the theorem and the two contributions appearing in the final estimate.

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arXiv:1612.06122•The European Physical Journal Plus•Feb 1, 2018•14 citations
We establish a quantitative adiabatic estimate for a class of finite-dimensional non-Hermitian Schrödinger dynamics. The original non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is assumed to be diagonalizable with real spectrum and non-crossing eigenvalues. We then construct a dynamically compatible time-dependent metric operator, and its positive square root defines a Dyson map. The associated Dyson-transformed Hamiltonian is Hermitian.
When this Dyson-transformed Hamiltonian satisfies the Hermitian adiabatic assumption, the standard resolvent-projection method gives an explicit adiabatic estimate in the Hermitian representation. Pulling this estimate back through the Dyson map gives an approximation in the original non-Hermitian representation. The resulting Dyson-pulled-back projections are then compared with the spectral projections of the original non-Hermitian Hamiltonian by using a contour-resolvent estimate. The final bound contains two contributions: the pulled-back Hermitian adiabatic error and the projection-comparison error. A two-level non-Hermitian model is presented to illustrate the hypotheses of the theorem and the two contributions appearing in the final estimate.
Abstract We present an strategy for the derivation of a time-dependent Dyson map which ensures simultaneously the unitarity of the time evolution and the observability of the whole time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian or parts of it. The time-dependent Dyson map is derived through a constructed Schrödinger-like equation governed, in one case, by the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian itself or, in another case, by its parts. In the former case, when the whole non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is considered, our scheme ensures the time-independence of the metric operator despite the time-dependence of the Dyson map, a necessary condition for the observability of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. In the later case, however, when parts of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is considered, our method ensures the simultaneous time-dependence of the Dyson map and the metric operator. In this latter case what is ensured is the observability of the remaining part of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian that was not chosen for the derivation of the Dyson map. Illustrative examples, for both cases, are derived from a driven non-Hermitian Harmonic oscillator.
Here we present an strategy for the derivation of a time-dependent Dyson map which ensures simultaneously the unitarity of the time evolution and the observability of a quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian. The time-dependent Dyson map is derived through a constructed Schrödinger-like equation governed by the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian itself; despite its time-dependence our scheme ensures the time-independence of the metric operator, a necessary condition for the observability of the quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian. As an illustrative example we consider a driven Harmonic oscillator described by a time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. After computing the Dyson map and demonstrating the time-independence of the associated metric operator, we successfully derive an eigenvalue equation for this time-dependent Hamiltonian which enable us to analyze the PT\mathcal{PT}PT-symmetry breaking process.
We develop a comprehensive, gauge-covariant geometric framework for non-Hermitian quantum systems in the quasi-Hermitian regime, that is, the region of parameter space where the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian admits a real spectrum and a positive-definite metric operator. We build this framework by elevating the Dyson map to a central geometric object. This map is the transformation that converts a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian into an equivalent Hermitian one. From it we construct the Dyson connection and decompose it into Hermitian and anti-Hermitian parts, identified respectively as {\it stretching } and {\it rotation } components. This decomposition cleanly separates the genuine physical metric deformations from the unitary gauge redundancies. Working with manifestly gauge-covariant states, we then derive the complex non-Hermitian Berry phase and the quantum geometric tensor (QGT), and show that the non-Hermitian geometric curvature originates from the non-commutativity of the stretching components at the operator level. We further analyse the geometric singularities near an exceptional point (EP) and uncover a distinct hierarchy of divergences. For a general two-level non-Hermitian model, the quantum metric tensor (QMT) exhibits a leading-order divergence ∼∣εμ∣−2\sim |ε_μ|^{-2}∼∣εμ​∣−2, while the Berry curvature shows a weaker, subleading divergence ∼∣εμ∣−3/2\sim |ε_μ|^{-3/2}∼∣εμ​∣−3/2, with εμε_μεμ​ denoting the parameter displacement from the EP along an individual parameter axis μμμ. Finally, we examine physical realizations of this model, including the non-Hermitian Su--Schrieffer--Heeger (SSH) and Hatano--Nelson (HN) models, where exact analytical results confirm the predicted critical scaling laws and illustrate the metric-deformation-driven non-Hermitian geometries.
It has been argued that it is incompatible to maintain unitary time evolution for time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonians when the metric operator is explicitly time dependent. We demonstrate here that the time-dependent Dyson equation and the time-dependent quasi-Hermiticity relation can be solved consistently in such a scenario for a time-dependent Dyson map and time-dependent metric operator, respectively. These solutions are obtained at the cost of rendering the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian to be a nonobservable operator as it ceases to be quasi-Hermitian when the metric becomes time dependent.
The time-evolution operator obtained from the fractional-time Schrödinger equation (FTSE) is said to be nonunitary since it does not preserve the norm of the vector state in time. As done in the time-dependent non-Hermitian quantum formalism, for a traceless non-Hermitian two-level quantum system, we demonstrate that it is possible to map the nonunitary time-evolution operator in a unitary one. It is done by considering a dynamical Hilbert space with a time-dependent metric operator, constructed from a Hermitian time-dependent Dyson map, in respect to which the system evolves in a unitary way, and the standard quantum mechanics interpretation can be made properly. To elucidate our approach, we consider three examples of Hamiltonian operators and their corresponding unitary dynamics obtained from the solutions of FTSE, and the respective Dyson maps.
We elaborate further on the metric representation that is obtained by transferring the time-dependence from a Hermitian Hamiltonian to the metric operator in a related non-Hermitian system. We provide further insight into the procedure on how to employ the time-dependent Dyson relation and the quasi-Hermiticity relation to solve time-dependent Hermitian Hamiltonian systems. By solving both equations separately we argue here that it is in general easier to solve the former. We solve the mutually related time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a Hermitian and non-Hermitian spin 1/2, 1 and 3/2 model with time-independent and time-dependent metric, respectively. In all models the overdetermined coupled system of equations for the Dyson map can be decoupled algebraic manipulations and reduces to simple linear differential equations and an equation that can be converted into the non-linear Ermakov-Pinney equation.