Constructing Exactly Solvable Pseudo-hermitian Many-Particle Quantum Systems by Isospectral Deformation

A class of non-Dirac-hermitian many-particle quantum systems admitting entirely real spectra and unitary time-evolution is presented. These quantum models are isospectral with Dirac-hermitian systems and are exactly solvable. The general method involves a realization of the basic canonical commutation relations defining the quantum system in terms of operators those are hermitian with respect to a pre-determined positive definite metric in the Hilbert space. Appropriate combinations of these operators result in a large number of pseudo-hermitian quantum systems admitting entirely real spectra and unitary time evolution. Examples of a pseudo-hermitian rational Calogero model and XXZ spin-chain are considered.     

Floquet theory for short laser pulses

We develop adiabatic perturbation theory for quantum systems responding to short laser pulses, with or without a frequency chirp. Our approach rests on lifting the time-dependent Schr?dinger equation to an extended Hilbert space, then applying standard perturbational techniques to Floquet states in this extended space, and finally projecting back to the physical Hilbert space. The same strategy also allows us to construct superadiabatic bases for monitoring the quantum evolution in the course of a pulse. These bases provide a diagnostic tool for improving the efficiency of pulse-induced population transfer. The formalism is applied to the selective excitation of molecular vibrational states by chirped laser pulses, which exploit either successive single-photon resonances or a multiphoton resonance, and by a STIRAP-like process. Received: 23 June 1998 / Revised: 18 August 1998 / Accepted: 25 August 1998     

Two elementary proofs of the Wigner theorem on symmetry in quantum mechanics

In quantum theory, symmetry has to be defined necessarily in terms of the family of unit rays, the state space. The theorem of Wigner asserts that a symmetry so defined at the level of rays can always be lifted into a linear unitary or an antilinear antiunitary operator acting on the underlying Hilbert space. We present two proofs of this theorem which are both elementary and economical. Central to our proofs is the recognition that a given Wigner symmetry can, by post-multiplication by a unitary symmetry, be taken into either the identity or complex conjugation. Our analysis often focuses on the behaviour of certain two-dimensional subspaces of the Hilbert space under the action of a given Wigner symmetry, but the relevance of this behaviour to the larger picture of the whole Hilbert space is made transparent at every stage.     

A new approach to obtaining sum rules

A new approach to obtaining the sum rules satisfied by the phenomenological coefficients appearing in the metric tensor of the generalized coordinate space of a many-particle system is considered and applied to the vibration-rotation motion of a nonlinear molecule. The approach is based on the requirement of physical covariance of the Cartesian and generalized coordinate configuration spaces of the system. A partial criterion of this physical covariance is the condition that the curvature tensor of configuration space remains covariant, and this condition gives several sum rules for the vibration-rotation parameters. These sum rules are particular cases of those known previously.     

An approach to measurement

We present a new approach to measurement theory. Our definition of measurement is motivated by direct laboratory procedures as they are carried out in practice. The theory is developed within the quantum logic framework. This work clarifies an important problem in the quantum logic approach; namely, where the Hilbert space comes from. We consider the relationship between measurements and observables, and present a Hilbert space embedding theorem. We conclude with a discussion of charge systems.     

Computational leakage: Grover's algorithm with imperfections

We study the effects of dissipation or leakage on the time evolution of Grover's algorithm for a quantum computer. We introduce an effective two-level model with dissipation and randomness (imperfections), which is based upon the idea that ideal Grover's algorithm operates in a 2-dimensional Hilbert space. The simulation results of this model and Grover's algorithm with imperfections are compared, and it is found that they are in good agreement for appropriately tuned parameters. It turns out that the main features of Grover's algorithm with imperfections can be understood in terms of two basic mechanisms, namely, a diffusion of probability density into the full Hilbert space and a stochastic rotation within the original 2-dimensional Hilbert space. Received 12 August 2002 / Received in final form 14 October 2002 Published online 4 February 2003     

Higher Orders of Perturbation Theory in Nonlocal Hydrodynamics of a Quantum Many-Particle System

In [1–5] it is demonstrated that the problem of the statistical quantum mechanics of a many-particle system in the linear approximation of weak hydrodynamic perturbations is equivalent to a hydrodynamic problem. The material relations for the corresponding hydrodynamic model are nonlocal in space and time. In the present paper, this approach is generalized to the nonlinear case. A recursion procedure for computing higher-order nonlinear terms in the material relations is constructed.     

A Gauge Model for Quantum Mechanics on a Stratified Space

In the Hamiltonian approach on a single spatial plaquette, we construct a quantum (lattice) gauge theory which incorporates the classical singularities. The reduced phase space is a stratified Kähler space, and we make explicit the requisite singular holomorphic quantization procedure on this space. On the quantum level, this procedure yields a costratified Hilbert space, that is, a Hilbert space together with a system which consists of the subspaces associated with the strata of the reduced phase space and of the corresponding orthoprojectors. The costratified Hilbert space structure reflects the stratification of the reduced phase space. For the special case where the structure group is SU(2), we discuss the tunneling probabilities between the strata, determine the energy eigenstates and study the corresponding expectation values of the orthoprojectors onto the subspaces associated with the strata in the strong and weak coupling approximations.     

Continuous symmetry reduction and return maps for high-dimensional flows

We present two continuous symmetry reduction methods for reducing high-dimensional dissipative flows to local return maps. In the Hilbert polynomial basis approach, the equivariant dynamics is rewritten in terms of invariant coordinates. In the method of moving frames (or method of slices) the state space is sliced locally in such a way that each group orbit of symmetry-equivalent points is represented by a single point. In either approach, numerical computations can be performed in the original state space representation, and the solutions are then projected onto the symmetry-reduced state space. The two methods are illustrated by reduction of the complex Lorenz system, a five-dimensional dissipative flow with rotational symmetry. While the Hilbert polynomial basis approach appears unfeasible for high-dimensional flows, symmetry reduction by the method of moving frames offers hope.     

Fundamental principles of quantum theory. II. From a convexity scheme to the DHB theory

Some classical and quantum theories are characterized within the convexity approach to probabilistic physical theories. In particular, the structure of the so-called DHB quantum theory will be analyzed. It turns out that the natural generalization of the standard Hubert space quantum mechanics, the operational one, is such a theory. The operational Hilbert space quantum theory will be reconstructed from the (weak) projection postulate and the complementarity principle. This is then used to argue that the DHB quantum theory is identical with the operational Hilbert space quantum theory.     

Emergent Newtonian dynamics and the geometric origin of mass

We consider a set of macroscopic (classical) degrees of freedom coupled to an arbitrary many-particle Hamiltonian system, quantum or classical. These degrees of freedom can represent positions of objects in space, their angles, shape distortions, magnetization, currents and so on. Expanding their dynamics near the adiabatic limit we find the emergent Newton’s second law (force is equal to the mass times acceleration) with an extra dissipative term. In systems with broken time reversal symmetry there is an additional Coriolis type force proportional to the Berry curvature. We give the microscopic definition of the mass tensor. The mass tensor is related to the non-equal time correlation functions in equilibrium and describes the dressing of the slow degree of freedom by virtual excitations in the system. In the classical (high-temperature) limit the mass tensor is given by the product of the inverse temperature and the Fubini–Study metric tensor determining the natural distance between the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian. For free particles this result reduces to the conventional definition of mass. This finding shows that any mass, at least in the classical limit, emerges from the distortions of the Hilbert space highlighting deep connections between any motion (not necessarily in space) and geometry. We illustrate our findings with four simple examples.     

An Alternative to the Gauge Theoretic Setting

The standard formulation of quantum gauge theories results from the Lagrangian (functional integral) quantization of classical gauge theories. A more intrinsic quantum theoretical access in the spirit of Wigner’s representation theory shows that there is a fundamental clash between the pointlike localization of zero mass (vector, tensor) potentials and the Hilbert space (positivity, unitarity) structure of QT. The quantization approach has no other way than to stay with pointlike localization and sacrifice the Hilbert space whereas the approach built on the intrinsic quantum concept of modular localization keeps the Hilbert space and trades the conflict creating pointlike generation with the tightest consistent localization: semiinfinite spacelike string localization. Whereas these potentials in the presence of interactions stay quite close to associated pointlike field strengths, the interacting matter fields to which they are coupled bear the brunt of the nonlocal aspect in that they are string-generated in a way which cannot be undone by any differentiation.     

Completeness of the Coulomb scattering wave functions

The completeness of the eigenfunctions of a self-adjoint Hamiltonian, which is the basic ingredient of quantum mechanics, plays an important role in nuclear reaction and nuclear-structure theory. Here we present the first formal proof of the completeness of the two-body Coulomb scattering wave functions for a repulsive unscreened Coulomb potential using Newton’s method (R. Newton, J. Math. Phys. 1, 319 (1960)). The proof allows us to claim that the eigenfunctions of the two-body Hamiltonian, with the potential given by the sum of the repulsive Coulomb plus short-range (nuclear) potentials, form a complete set. It also allows one to extend Berggren’s approach for the modification of the complete set of eigenfunctions by including the resonances for charged particles. We also demonstrate that the resonant Gamow functions with Coulomb tail can be regularized using Zel’dovich’s regularization method. Communicated by U.-G. Meiβner For the continuum spectrum the eigenfunctions are not square-integrable, strictly speaking we need to use a rigged Hilbert space which extends the normal Hilbert space by bringing together the discrete and continuum spectrum eigenstates.     

Cumulant approach to dynamical correlation functions at finite temperatures

A new theoretical approach, based on the introduction of cumulants, to calculate thermodynamic averages and dynamical correlation functions at finite temperatures is developed. The method is formulated in Liouville instead of Hilbert space and can be applied to operators which do not require to satisfy fermion or boson commutation relations. The application of the partitioning and projection methods for the dynamical correlation functions is considered. The present method can be applied to weakly as well as to strongly correlated systems.     

Quantum simulation of the t–J model

Computer simulation of a many-particle quantum system is bound to reach the inevitable limits of its ability as the system size increases. The primary reason for this is that the memory size used in a classical simulator grows polynomially whereas the Hilbert space of the quantum system does so exponentially. Replacing the classical simulator by a quantum simulator would be an effective method of surmounting this obstacle. The prevailing techniques for simulating quantum systems on a quantum computer have been developed for purposes of computing numerical algorithms designed to obtain approximate physical quantities of interest. The method suggested here requires no numerical algorithms; it is a direct isomorphic translation between a quantum simulator and the quantum system to be simulated. In the quantum simulator, physical parameters of the system, which are the fixed parameters of the simulated quantum system, are under the control of the experimenter. A method of simulating a model for high-temperature superconducting oxides, the t–J model, by optical control, as an example of such a quantum simulation, is presented.     

Quantum Mechanics and Its Evolving Formulations

In this paper, we discuss the time evolution of the quantum mechanics formalism. Starting from the heroic beginnings of Heisenberg and Schrödinger, we cover successively the rigorous Hilbert space formulation of von Neumann, the practical bra-ket formalism of Dirac, and the more recent rigged Hilbert space approach.     

Geometrical derivation of a new ground state formula for the n-electron Friedel resonance model

The n-electron ground state of the Friedel resonance model can be written as a single Slater determinant of n s-electrons plus d-electron-s-hole companion. This new formula is derived geometrically in the Hilbert space. The derivation uses the fact that a n-electron Slater determinant, built from N band states, corresponds to a n-dimensional subspace in the N-dimensional Hilbert space. Received: 4 November 1997 / Accepted: 19 November 1997     

A Hilbert space approach to the Lippmann-Schwinger equation in momentum representation

We study the Lippmann-Schwinger equation for the quantum mechanical two-body scattering problem. We propose a Hilbert space approach in momentum-angular momentum representation. Imposing a Hölder integrability condition on the potential, the kernel of the integral equation becomes a compact operator in an adequate Hilbert space H⁰. We show that expansion into orthogonal polynomials becomes very simple, and we give an application to the three-particle problem.