In quantum-mechanics, the Hamiltonian potential is said to be non-Hermitian if the parameter is chosen to be imaginary [1]. Several papers have shown a great deal of interest in the study of non-Hermitian complex potentials with real spectrum [2–5]. This new class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian potentials has been studied heavily [6], and it has been shown that, when the PT symmetry is not broken, such Hamiltonians define unitary theories of quantum mechanics [7]. In 1998 Bender [8] generalized the new kind of Hamiltonian complex potentials to a two-parameter class
In quantum-mechanics, the Hamiltonian potential is said to be non-Hermitian if the parameter is chosen to be imaginary [1]. Several papers have shown a great deal of interest in the study of non-Hermitian complex potentials with real spectrum [2–5]. This new class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian potentials has been studied heavily [6], and it has been shown that, when the PT symmetry is not broken, such Hamiltonians define unitary theories of quantum mechanics [7]. In 1998 Bender [8] generalized the new kind of Hamiltonian complex potentials to a two-parameter class
With a view to getting further insight into the solutions of one-dimensional analogous Schr?dinger equation for a non-hermitian (complex) Hamiltonian system, we investigate the quasi-exact PT- symmetric solutions for an octic potential and its variant using extended complex phase space approach characterized by x=x1+ip2, p=p1+ix2, where (x1, p1) and (x2, p2) are real and considered as canonical pairs. Besides the complexity of the phase space, complexity of potential parameters is also considered. The analyticity property of the eigenfunction alone is found sufficient to throw light on the nature of eigenvalue and eigenfunction of a system. The imaginary part of energy eigenvalue of a non-hermitian Hamiltonian exist for complex potential parameters and reduces to zero for real parameters. However, in the present work, it is found that imaginary component of the energy eigenvalue vanishes even when potential parameters are complex, provided that PT-symmetric condition is satisfied. Thus PT- symmetric version of a non-hermitian Hamiltonian possesses the real eigenvalue.
A physical theory of quantum mechanics can be based on a complex Hamiltonian that is not Hermitian but instead satisfies the physical condition of space-time reflection symmetry ( PT symmetry).Thus, there are infinitely many new Hamiltonians that one can construct that might explain experimental data.One would think that a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian would give a quantum theory that violates unitarity.However, if PT symmetry is not broken, it is possible to use a physical symmetry of the Hamiltonian to construct an inner product whose associated norm is positive definite.This construction is general and works for any PT -symmetric Hamiltonian.The dynamics is governed by unitary time evolution.This formulation does not conflict with the requirements of conventional quantum mechanics.There are many possible observable and experimental consequences of extending quantum mechanics into the complex domain, both in particle physics and in solid state physics.
PT Symmetric Hamiltonian Model and Exactly Solvable Potentials
Searching for non-Hermitian (parity-time)PT-symmetric Hamiltonians \cite{bender} with real spectra has been acquiring much interest for fourteen years. In this article, we have introduced a PT symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonian model which is given as H^=ω(b^†b^+21)+α(b^2−(b^†)2) where ω and α are real constants, b^ and b†^ are first order differential operators. Moreover, Pseudo-Hermiticity that is a generalization of PT symmetry has been attracting a growing interest \cite{mos}. Because the Hamiltonian H is pseudo-Hermitian, we have obtained the Hermitian equivalent of H which is in Sturm- Liouville form leads to exactly solvable potential models which are effective screened potential and hyperbolic Rosen-Morse II potential. H is called pseudo-Hermitian, if there exists a Hermitian and invertible operator η satisfying H†=ηHη−1. For the Hermitian Hamiltonian h, one can write h=ρHρ−1 where ρ=η is unitary. Using this ρ we have obtained a physical Hamiltonian h for each case. Then, the Schrödinger equation is solved exactly using Shape Invariance method of Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics \cite{susy1}. Mapping function ρ is obtained for each potential case.
In this work we intend to study a class of time-dependent quantum systems with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, particularly those whose Hermitian counterpart are important for the comprehension of posed problems in quantum optics and quantum chemistry, which consists of an oscillator with time-dependent mass and frequency under the action of a time-dependent imaginary potential. We obtain the propagator for a general timedependence of the parameters and the wave-functions are obtained explicitly for constant frequency and mass and a linear time-dependence in the potential. The wave-functions are used to obtain the expectation value of the Hamiltonian. Although not PT symmetric the case of study exhibits real values of energy.
The Hamiltonian H specifies the energy levels and time evolution of a quantum theory. A standard axiom of quantum mechanics requires that H be Hermitian because Hermiticity guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and that time evolution is unitary (probability-preserving). This paper describes an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics in which the mathematical axiom of Hermiticity (transpose + complex conjugate) is replaced by the physically transparent condition of space-time reflection (PT) symmetry. If H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then the spectrum is real. Examples of PT-symmetric non-Hermitian quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians are H=p^2+ix^3 and H=p^2-x^4. Amazingly, the energy levels of these Hamiltonians are all real and positive! In general, if H has an unbroken PT symmetry, then it has another symmetry represented by a linear operator C. Using C, one can construct a time-independent inner product with a positive-definite norm. Thus, PT-symmetric Hamiltonians describe a new class of complex quantum theories having positive probabilities and unitary time evolution. The Lee Model is an example of a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian. The renormalized Lee-model Hamiltonian has a negative-norm "ghost" state because renormalization causes the Hamiltonian to become non-Hermitian. For the past 50 years there have been many attempts to find a physical interpretation for the ghost, but all such attempts failed. Our interpretation of the ghost is simply that the non-Hermitian Lee Model Hamiltonian is PT-symmetric. The C operator for the Lee Model is calculated exactly and in closed form and the ghost is shown to be a physical state having a positive norm. The ideas of PT symmetry are illustrated by using many quantum-mechanical and quantum-field-theoretic models.