3 research outputs found
The brachistochrone problem in open quantum systems
Recently, the quantum brachistochrone problem is discussed in the literature
by using non-Hermitian Hamilton operators of different type. Here, it is
demonstrated that the passage time is tunable in realistic open quantum systems
due to the biorthogonality of the eigenfunctions of the non-Hermitian Hamilton
operator. As an example, the numerical results obtained by Bulgakov et al. for
the transmission through microwave cavities of different shape are analyzed
from the point of view of the brachistochrone problem. The passage time is
shortened in the crossover from the weak-coupling to the strong-coupling regime
where the resonance states overlap and many branch points (exceptional points)
in the complex plane exist. The effect can {\it not} be described in the
framework of standard quantum mechanics with Hermitian Hamilton operator and
consideration of matrix poles.Comment: 18 page
Interactions of Hermitian and non-Hermitian Hamiltonians
The coupling of non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonians to standard Hermitian
Hamiltonians, each of which individually has a real energy spectrum, is
explored by means of a number of soluble models. It is found that in all cases
the energy remains real for small values of the coupling constant, but becomes
complex if the coupling becomes stronger than some critical value. For a
quadratic non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian coupled to an arbitrary real
Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian, the reality of the ground-state energy for
small enough coupling constant is established up to second order in
perturbation theory.Comment: 9 pages, 0 figure
Projective Hilbert space structures at exceptional points
A non-Hermitian complex symmetric 2x2 matrix toy model is used to study
projective Hilbert space structures in the vicinity of exceptional points
(EPs). The bi-orthogonal eigenvectors of a diagonalizable matrix are
Puiseux-expanded in terms of the root vectors at the EP. It is shown that the
apparent contradiction between the two incompatible normalization conditions
with finite and singular behavior in the EP-limit can be resolved by
projectively extending the original Hilbert space. The complementary
normalization conditions correspond then to two different affine charts of this
enlarged projective Hilbert space. Geometric phase and phase jump behavior are
analyzed and the usefulness of the phase rigidity as measure for the distance
to EP configurations is demonstrated. Finally, EP-related aspects of
PT-symmetrically extended Quantum Mechanics are discussed and a conjecture
concerning the quantum brachistochrone problem is formulated.Comment: 20 pages; discussion extended, refs added; bug correcte