Krein-space formulation of \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry, \mathcal{C}\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-inner products, and pseudo-Hermiticity

Emphasizing the physical constraints on the formulation of the quantum theory, based on the standard measurement axiom and the Schrödinger equation, we comment on some conceptual issues arising in the formulation of the $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ -symmetric quantum mechanics. In particular, we elaborate on the requirements of the boundedness of the metric operator and the diagonalizability of the Hamiltonian. We also provide an accessible account of a Krein-space derivation of the $\mathcal{C}\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ -inner product, that was widely known to mathematicians since 1950’s. We show how this derivation is linked with the pseudo-Hermitian formulation of the $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ -symmetric quantum mechanics.     

Pseudo-Hermitian Systems with $\mathcal {P}\mathcal {T}$-Symmetry: Degeneracy and Krein Space

We show in the present paper that pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems with even \(\mathcal {P}\mathcal {T}\)-symmetry \((\mathcal {P}^{2}=1,\mathcal {T}^{2}=1)\) admit a degeneracy structure. This kind of degeneracy is expected traditionally in the odd \(\mathcal {P}\mathcal {T}\)-symmetric systems \((\mathcal {P}^{2}=1,\mathcal {T}^{2}=-1)\) which is appropriate to the fermions (Scolarici and Solombrino, Phys. Lett. A 303, 239 2002; Jones-Smith and Mathur, Phys. Rev. A 82, 042101 2010). We establish that the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians with even \(\mathcal {P}\mathcal {T}\)-symmetry admit a degeneracy structure if the operator \(\mathcal {PT}\) anticommutes with the metric operator η _σ which is necessarily indefinite. We also show that the Krein space formulation of the Hilbert space is the convenient framework for the implementation of unbroken \(\mathcal {P}\mathcal {T}\)-symmetry. These general results are illustrated with great details for four-level pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian with even \(\mathcal {P}\mathcal {T}\) -symmetry.     

Comparative analysis of real and \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetric Scarf potentials

The Scarf I and Scarf II potentials are discussed within a common mathematical framework, which is then specified to handle the two potentials separately both in the conventional Hermitian and in the -symmetric setting. The physically admissible solutions are identified in each case together with the corresponding energy eigenvalues. Several main differences between the -symmetric Scarf I and II potentials are pointed out. These include the presence and absence of the quasi-parity quantum number, the sign of the pseudo-norm, the mechanism of the spontaneous breakdown of symmetry and the non- orthogonality of otherwise admissible solutions in the Scarf I potential. Similarities and differences with respect to the corresponding Hermitian systems are also pointed out.     

Effective Potential for \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-Symmetric Quantum Field Theories

Recently, a class of -invariant scalar quantum field theories described by the non-Hermitian Lagrangian = () ² +g ² (i) was studied. It was found that there are two regions of . For <0 the -invariance of the Lagrangian is spontaneously broken, and as a consequence, all but the lowest-lying energy levels are complex. For 0 the -invariance of the Lagrangian is unbroken, and the entire energy spectrum is real and positive. The subtle transition at =0 is not well understood. In this paper we initiate an investigation of this transition by carrying out a detailed numerical study of the effective potential V _eff (_c) in zero-dimensional spacetime. Although this numerical work reveals some differences between the <0 and the >0 regimes, we cannot yet see convincing evidence of the transition at =0 in the structure of the effective potential for -symmetric quantum field theories.     

On a few new quantization recipes using \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetry

A review of a few recent developments in our analysis and applications of the coupled-channel version of the formalism of -symmetric quantum mechanics is given.     

Analytic wave functions and energies for two-dimensional \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} -symmetric quartic potentials

Analytic wave functions and the corresponding energies for a class of the $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ -symmetric two-dimensional quartic potentials are found. The general form of the solutions is discussed.     

Noether symmetry approach in $$f(\mathcal {G},T)$$ gravity

We explore the recently introduced modified Gauss–Bonnet gravity (Sharif and Ikram in Eur Phys J C 76:640, 2016), \(f(\mathcal {G},T)\) pragmatic with \(\mathcal {G}\), the Gauss–Bonnet term, and T, the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. Noether symmetry approach has been used to develop some cosmologically viable \(f(\mathcal {G},T)\) gravity models. The Noether equations of modified gravity are reported for flat FRW universe. Two specific models have been studied to determine the conserved quantities and exact solutions. In particular, the well known deSitter solution is reconstructed for some specific choice of \(f(\mathcal {G},T)\) gravity model.     

Parity anomaly in a \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetric quartic Hamiltonian

In this paper, two independent methods are used to show that the non-Hermitian -symmetric wrong-sign quartic Hamiltonian H = (1/2m)p ² − gx ⁴ is exactly equivalent to the conventional Hermitian Hamiltonian . First, this equivalence is demonstrated by using elementary differential-equation techniques and second, it is demonstrated by using functional-integration methods. As the linear term in the Hermitian Hamiltonian is proportional to ℏ, this term is anomalous; that is, the linear term in the potential has no classical analog. The anomaly is a consequence of the broken parity symmetry of the original non-Hermitian -symmetric Hamiltonian. The anomaly term in remains unchanged if an x ² term is introduced into H. When such a quadratic term is present in H, this Hamiltonian possesses bound states. The corresponding bound states in are a direct physical measure of the anomaly. If there were no anomaly term, there would be no bound states.     

Singular $$ \mathcal{R}$$ -Matrices and Drinfeld's Comultiplication

We compute the $\mathcal{R}$ -matrix which intertwines two dimensional evaluation representations with Drinfeld comultiplication for ${\text{U}}_q \left( {\widehat{{\text{sl}}}_{\text{2}} } \right)$ . This $\mathcal{R}$ -matrix contains terms proportional to the δ-function. We construct the algebra $A\left( \mathcal{R} \right)$ generated by the elements of the matrices L^±(z) with relations determined by $\mathcal{R}$ . In the category of highest-weight representations, there is a Hopf algebra isomorphism between $A\left( \mathcal{R} \right)$ and an extension $\overline {\text{U}} _q \left( {\widehat{{\text{sl}}}_{\text{2}} } \right)$ of Drinfeld's algebra.     

Cosmological analysis of reconstructed $${\mathcal {F}}(T,T_{\mathcal {G}})$$ models

In this paper, we analyze cosmological consequences of the reconstructed generalized ghost pilgrim dark energy \({\mathcal {F}}(T,T_{\mathcal {G}})\) models in terms of redshift parameter z. For this purpose, we consider power-law scale factor, scale factor for two unified phases and intermediate scale factor. We discuss graphical behavior of the reconstructed models and examine their stability analysis. Also, we explore the behavior of equation of state as well as deceleration parameters and \(\omega _{\Lambda }-\omega _{\Lambda }^{'}\) as well as \(r-s\) planes. It is found that all models are stable for pilgrim dark energy parameter 2. The equation of state parameter satisfies the necessary condition for pilgrim dark energy phenomenon for all scale factors. All other cosmological parameters show great consistency with the current behavior of the universe.     

\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetric quartic anharmonic oscillator and position-dependent mass in a perturbative approach

To lowest order of perturbation theory we show that an equivalence can be established between a -symmetric generalized quartic anharmonic oscillator model and a Hermitian position-dependent mass Hamiltonian h. An important feature of h is that it reveals a domain of couplings where the quartic potential could be attractive, vanishing or repulsive. We also determine the associated physical quantities.     

Point Interactions: $$\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$$ -Hermiticity and Reality of the Spectrum

General point interactions for the second derivative operator in one dimension are studied. In particular, -self-adjoint point interactions with the support at the origin and at points ±l are considered. The spectrum of such non-Hermitian operators is investigated and conditions when the spectrum is pure real are presented. The results are compared with those for standard self-adjoint point interactions.     

\mathcal{PT}-symmetric nonlinear metamaterials and zero-dimensional systems

A one dimensional, parity-time ( $\mathcal{PT}$ )-symmetric magnetic metamaterial comprising split-ring resonators having both gain and loss is investigated. In the linear regime, the transition from the exact to the broken $\mathcal{PT}$ -phase is determined through the calculation of the eigenfrequency spectrum for two different configurations; the one with equidistant split-rings and the other with the split-rings forming a binary pattern ( $\mathcal{PT}$ dimer chain). The latter system features a two-band, gapped spectrum with its shape determined by the gain/loss coefficient as well as the interelement coupling. In the presence of nonlinearity, the $\mathcal{PT}$ dimer chain configuration with balanced gain and loss supports nonlinear localized modes in the form of a novel type of discrete breathers below the lower branch of the linear spectrum. These breathers that can be excited from a weak applied magnetic field by frequency chirping, can be subsequently driven solely by the gain for very long times. The effect of a small imbalance between gain and loss is also considered. Fundamental gain-driven breathers occupy both sites of a dimer, while their energy is almost equally partitioned between the two split-rings, the one with gain and the other with loss. We also introduce a model equation for the investigation of classical $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry in zero dimensions, realized by a simple harmonic oscillator with matched time-dependent gain and loss that exhibits a transition from oscillatory to diverging motion. This behavior is similar to a transition from the exact to the broken $\mathcal{PT}$ phase in higher-dimensional $\mathcal{PT}$ -symmetric systems. A stability condition relating the parameters of the problem is obtained in the case of a piece-wise constant gain/loss function that allows the construction of a phase diagram with alternating stable and unstable regions.     

Uniqueness Theorem of {\mathcal{W}} -Constraints for Simple Singularities

In a recent paper, Bakalov and Milanov (Compositio. Math. 149: 840–888, 2013) proved that the total descendant potential of a simple singularity satisfies the ${\mathcal{W}}$ -constraints, which come from the ${\mathcal{W}}$ -algebra of the lattice vertex algebra associated with the root lattice of this singularity and a twisted module of the vertex algebra. In the present paper, we prove that the solution of these ${\mathcal{W}}$ -constraints is unique up to a constant factor, as conjectured by Bakalov and Milanov in their paper.     

Regular Strongly Typical Blocks of $${\mathcal{O}^{\mathfrak {q}}}$$

We use the technique of Harish-Chandra bimodules to prove that regular strongly typical blocks of the category for the queer Lie superalgebra are equivalent to the corresponding blocks of the category for the Lie algebra .     

Global symmetries and $$\mathcal{N}=2$$ SUSY

We prove that \(\mathcal{N}=2\) theories that arise by taking n free hypermultiplets and gauging a subgroup of \({\text {Sp}}(n)\), the non-R global symmetry of the free theory, have a remaining global symmetry, which is a direct sum of unitary, symplectic, and special orthogonal factors. This implies that theories that have \({\text {SU}}(N)\) but not \({\text {U}}(N)\) global symmetries, such as Gaiotto’s \(T_N\) theories, are not likely to arise as IR fixed points of RG flows from weakly coupled \({\mathcal{N}=2}\) gauge theories.     

On the {{\mathcal{N}}=2} Superconformal Index and Eigenfunctions of the Elliptic RS Model

We define an infinite sequence of superconformal indices, ${{\mathcal{I}}_n}$ , generalizing the Schur index for ${{\mathcal{N}}=2}$ theories. For theories of class ${{\mathcal{S}}}$ we then suggest a recursive technique to completely determine ${{\mathcal{I}}_n}$ . The information encoded in the sequence of indices is equivalent to the ${{\mathcal{N}}=2}$ superconformal index depending on a maximal set of fugacities. Mathematically, the procedure suggested in this note provides a perturbative algorithm for computing a set of eigenfunctions of the elliptic Ruijsenaars–Schneider model.     

Classical Affine {\mathcal{W}}-Algebras for {\mathfrak{gl}_N} and Associated Integrable Hamiltonian Hierarchies

We apply the new method for constructing integrable Hamiltonian hierarchies of Lax type equations developed in our previous paper to show that all \({\mathcal{W}}\)-algebras \({\mathcal{W}(\mathfrak{gl}N, f)}\) carry such a hierarchy. As an application, we show that all vector constrained KP hierarchies and their matrix generalizations are obtained from these hierarchies by Dirac reduction, which provides the former with a bi-Poisson structure.     

Spontaneous breakdown of $$ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $$ symmetry in the complex Coulomb potential

The $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry of the Coulomb potential and its solutions are studied along trajectories satisfying the $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry requirement. It is shown that with appropriate normalization constant the general solutions can be chosen $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} -symmetric if the L parameter that corresponds to angular momentum in the Hermitian case is real. $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry is spontaneously broken, however, for complex L values of the form L = −1/2 + iλ. In this case the potential remains $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} -symmetric, while the two independent solutions are transformed to each other by the $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} operation and at the same time, the two series of discrete energy eigenvalues turn into each other’s complex conjugate.