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.     

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.     

On the spectra of a class of PT-symmetric quantum nonlinear oscillators

Some recent results are described on the reality of the spectrum of -symmetric Schrodinger operators, obtained by perturbing a class of quantum nonlinear oscillators by means of suitable relatively bounded perturbations. Presented at the 3rd International Workshop “Pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians in Quantum Physics”, Istanbul, Turkey, June 20–22, 2005.     

Spherical-separability of Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and Pseudo- PT\mathcal{PT} -symmetry

Non-Hermitian but -symmetrized spherically-separable Dirac and Schr?dinger Hamiltonians are considered. It is observed that the descendant Hamiltonians H _r , H _θ , and H _φ play essential roles and offer some “user-feriendly” options as to which one (or ones) of them is (or are) non-Hermitian. Considering a -symmetrized H _φ , we have shown that the conventional Dirac (relativistic) and Schr?dinger (non-relativistic) energy eigenvalues are recoverable. We have also witnessed an unavoidable change in the azimuthal part of the general wavefunction. Moreover, setting a possible interaction V(θ)≠0 in the descendant Hamiltonian H _θ would manifest a change in the angular θ-dependent part of the general solution too. Whilst some -symmetrized H _φ Hamiltonians are considered, a recipe to keep the regular magnetic quantum number m, as defined in the regular traditional Hermitian settings, is suggested. Hamiltonians possess properties similar to the -symmetric ones (here the non-Hermitian -symmetric Hamiltonians) are nicknamed as pseudo- -symmetric.     

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{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.     

$${f(\mathcal R)}$$ quantum cosmology

We have quantized a flat cosmological model in the context of the metric models, using the causal Bohmian quantum theory. The equations are solved and then we have obtained how the quantum corrections influence the classical equations.     

${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$-symmetry berry phases,topology and ${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$-symmetry breaking

We study the complex Berry phases in non-Hermitian systems with parity- and time-reversal $\left({ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }\right)$ symmetry. We investigate a kind of two-level system with ${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$ symmetry. We find that the real part of the the complex Berry phases have two quantized values and they are equal to either 0 or π, which originates from the topology of the Hermitian eigenstates. We also find that if we change the relative parameters of the Hamiltonian from the unbroken-${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$-symmetry phase to the broken-${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$-symmetry phase, the imaginary part of the complex Berry phases are divergent at the exceptional points. We exhibit two concrete examples in this work, one is a two-level toys model, which has nontrivial Berry phases; the other is the generalized Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model that has physical loss and gain in every sublattice. Our results explicitly demonstrate the relation between complex Berry phases, topology and ${ \mathcal P }{ \mathcal T }$-symmetry breaking and enrich the field of the non-Hermitian physics.     

Non-hermitian quantum mechanics in non-commutative space

A recent investigation of the possibility of having a -symmetric periodic potential in an optical lattice stimulated the urge to generalize non-hermitian quantum mechanics beyond the case of commutative space. We thus study non-hermitian quantum systems in non-commutative space as well as a -symmetric deformation of this space. Specifically, a -symmetric harmonic oscillator together with an iC(x ₁+x ₂) interaction are discussed in this space, and solutions are obtained. We show that in the deformed non-commutative space the Hamiltonian may or may not possess real eigenvalues, depending on the choice of the non-commutative parameters. However, it is shown that in standard non-commutative space, the iC(x ₁+x ₂) interaction generates only real eigenvalues despite the fact that the Hamiltonian is not -symmetric. A complex interacting anisotropic oscillator system also is discussed.     

Properties of a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian for harmonic oscillator decorated with Dirac delta interactions

We have investigated bound state solutions of the Schrodinger equation for one-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential together with even number of Dirac delta functions. These point interactions are located at symmetric points x = x _i and x = −x _i (i = 1, 2,..., N) and they have complex conjugate strengths and , respectively. We present explicit forms of eigenfunctions and an algebraic eigenvalue equation and numerical solutions for this -symmetric Hamiltonian. Presented at the 3rd International Workshop “Pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians in Quantum Physics”, Istanbul, Turkey, June 20–22, 2005.     

Strong decay Δ<Superscript>++</Superscript>→<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis> with light-cone QCD sum rules

We calculate the strong coupling constant g _{ΔN π} and study the strong decay Δ⁺⁺→p π with light-cone QCD sum rules. The numerical value of the strong coupling constant g _{ΔN π} is consistent with the experimental data. The small discrepancy may be due to the failure to take into account perturbative corrections.     

Weakly non-Hermitian square well

Inside a box of size L we contemplate the simplest -symmetric piece-wise constant potential of size ℓ < L and purely imaginary strength ig and describe all its bound states in closed form. Presented at the 3rd International Workshop “Pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians in Quantum Physics”, Istanbul, Turkey, June 20–22, 2005.     

$\mathcal{PT}$ Symmetry in Statistical Mechanics and the Sign Problem

Generalized PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry provides crucial insight into the sign problem for two classes of models. In the case of quantum statistical models at non-zero chemical potential, the free energy density is directly related to the ground state energy of a non-Hermitian, but generalized PT\mathcal{PT}-symmetric Hamiltonian. There is a corresponding class of PT\mathcal{PT}-symmetric classical statistical mechanics models with non-Hermitian transfer matrices. We discuss a class of Z(N) spin models with explicit PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry and also the ANNNI model, which has a hidden PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry. For both quantum and classical models, the class of models with generalized PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry is precisely the class where the complex weight problem can be reduced to real weights, i.e., a sign problem. The spatial two-point functions of such models can exhibit three different behaviors: exponential decay, oscillatory decay, and periodic behavior. The latter two regions are associated with PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry breaking, where a Hamiltonian or transfer matrix has complex conjugate pairs of eigenvalues. The transition to a spatially modulated phase is associated with PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry breaking of the ground state, and is generically a first-order transition. In the region where PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry is unbroken, the sign problem can always be solved in principle using the equivalence to a Hermitian theory in this region. The ANNNI model provides an example of a model with PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry which can be simulated for all parameter values, including cases where PT\mathcal{PT} symmetry is broken.     

Diquark Model for J/ψ Baryonic Decays

The baryonic decays of J/ provide a new way to study the internal structure of baryons. We apply a simple diquark model to the calculation of the decay cross-sections for the reactions J/ , N^*(1440), ^*N^*, and ⁰⁰. The results are different from those given by the ordinary constituent quark model. Hence these reactions may provide a new check of two different pictures for the baryons.     

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.     

Extending $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$ Symmetry from Heisenberg Algebra to E2 Algebra

The E2 algebra has three elements, J, u, and v, which satisfy the commutation relations [u,J]=iv, [v,J]=−iu, [u,v]=0. We can construct the Hamiltonian H=J ²+gu, where g is a real parameter, from these elements. This Hamiltonian is Hermitian and consequently it has real eigenvalues. However, we can also construct the PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetric and non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H=J ²+igu, where again g is real. As in the case of PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetric Hamiltonians constructed from the elements x and p of the Heisenberg algebra, there are two regions in parameter space for this PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}-symmetric Hamiltonian, a region of unbroken PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry in which all the eigenvalues are real and a region of broken PT\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T} symmetry in which some of the eigenvalues are complex. The two regions are separated by a critical value of g.     

Time-Dependent Vacuum Energy Induced by {\mathcal{D}}–Particle Recoil

We consider cosmology in the framework of a material reference system of particles, including the effects of quantum recoil induced by closed-string probe particles. We find a time-dependent contribution to the cosmological vacuum energy, which relaxes to zero as 1/t ² for large times t. If this energy density is dominant, the Universe expands with a scale factor R(t)t ². We show that this possibility is compatible with recent observational constraints from high–redshift supernovae, and may also respect other phenomenological bounds on time variation in the vacuum energy imposed by early cosmology.     

Supersymmetric quantum mechanics living on topologically non-trivial Riemann surfaces

Supersymmetric quantum mechanics is constructed in a new non-Hermitian representation. Firstly, the map between the partner operators H ^(±) is chosen antilinear. Secondly, both these components of a super-Hamiltonian $ \mathcal{H} $ \mathcal{H} are defined along certain topologically non-trivial complex curves r ^(±)(x) which spread over several Riemann sheets of the wave function. The non-uniqueness of our choice of the map $ \mathcal{T} $ \mathcal{T} between ‘tobogganic’ partner curves r ⁽⁺⁾(x) and r ⁽⁻⁾(x) is emphasized.     

Viscosity and thermodynamic properties of QGP in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study the viscosity and thermodynamic properties of QGP at RHIC by employing the recently extracted equilibrium distribution functions from two hot QCD equations of state of O(g ⁵) and O(g ⁶ln (1/g)), respectively. After obtaining the temperature dependence of the energy density and the entropy density, we focus our attention on the determination of the shear viscosity for a rapidly expanding interacting plasma, as a function of temperature. We find that the interactions significantly decrease the shear viscosity. They decrease the viscosity to entropy density ratio, as well.