In 1980 Englert examined the classic problem of the electromagnetic self-force on an oscillating charged particle. His approach, which was based on an earlier idea of Bateman, was to introduce a charge-conjugate particle and to show that the two-particle system is Hamiltonian. Unfortunately, Englert’s model did not solve the problem of runaway modes, and the corresponding quantum theory had ghost states. It is shown here that Englert’s Hamiltonian is PT symmetric, and that the problems with his model arise because the PT symmetry is broken at both the classical and quantum level. However, by allowing the charged particles to interact and by adjusting the coupling parameters to put the model into an unbroken PT-symmetric region, one eliminates the classical runaway modes and obtains a corresponding quantum system that is ghost free.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.3828
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

Logarithmic time-like Liouville quantum field theory has a generalized PT invariance, where T is the time-reversal operator and P stands for an S-duality reflection of the Liouville field \(\phi\). In Euclidean space the Lagrangian of such a theory, \(L=\frac{1}{2}(\nabla\phi)^2−ig\phi \exp(ia\phi)\), is analyzed using the techniques of PT-symmetric quantum theory. It is shown that L defines an infinite number of unitarily inequivalent sectors of the theory labeled by the integer n. In one-dimensional space (quantum mechanics) the energy spectrum is calculated in the semiclassical limit and the \(m\)th energy level in the \(n\)th sector is given by \(E_{m,n}∼(m+1/2)^2a^2/(16n^2)\).

http://arxiv.org/abs/1408.2432
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

Complex trajectories for Hamiltonians of the form H=p^n+V(x) are studied. For n=2 time-reversal symmetry prevents trajectories from crossing. However, for n>2 trajectories may indeed cross, and as a result, the complex trajectories for such Hamiltonians have a rich and elaborate structure. In past work on complex classical trajectories it has been observed that turning points act as attractors; they pull on complex trajectories and make them veer towards the turning point. In this paper it is shown that the poles of V(x) have the opposite effect — they deflect and repel trajectories. Moreover, poles shield and screen the effect of turning points.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1402.3852
Mathematical Physics (math-ph)

Optical systems combining balanced loss and gain profiles provide a unique platform to implement classical analogues of quantum systems described by non-Hermitian parity-time- (PT-) symmetric Hamiltonians and to originate new synthetic materials with novel properties. To date, experimental works on PT-symmetric optical systems have been limited to waveguides in which resonances do not play a role. Here we report the first demonstration of PT-symmetry breaking in optical resonator systems by using two directly coupled on-chip optical whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microtoroid silica resonators. Gain in one of the resonators is provided by optically pumping Erbium (Er3+) ions embedded in the silica matrix; the other resonator exhibits passive loss. The coupling strength between the resonators is adjusted by using nanopositioning stages to tune their distance. We have observed reciprocal behavior of the PT-symmetric system in the linear regime, as well as a transition to nonreciprocity in the PT symmetry-breaking phase transition due to the significant enhancement of nonlinearity in the broken-symmetry phase. Our results represent a significant advance towards a new generation of synthetic optical systems enabling on-chip manipulation and control of light propagation.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1308.4564
Optics (physics.optics); Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Classical Physics (physics.class-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

In an earlier paper it was argued that the conventional double-scaling limit of an O(N)-symmetric quartic quantum field theory is inconsistent because the critical coupling constant is negative and thus the integral representing the partition function of the critical theory does not exist. In this earlier paper it was shown that for an O(N)-symmetric quantum field theory in zero-dimensional spacetime one can avoid this difficulty if one replaces the original quartic theory by its PT-symmetric analog. In the current paper an O(N)-symmetric quartic quantum field theory in one-dimensional spacetime [that is, O(N)-symmetric quantum mechanics] is studied using the Schroedinger equation. It is shown that the global PT-symmetric formulation of this differential equation provides a consistent way to perform the double-scaling limit of the O(N)-symmetric anharmonic oscillator. The physical nature of the critical behavior is explained by studying the PT-symmetric quantum theory and the corresponding and equivalent Hermitian quantum theory.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1307.4348

High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

The inspiration for this theoretical paper comes from recent experiments on a PT-symmetric system of two coupled optical whispering galleries (optical resonators). The optical system can be modeled as a pair of coupled linear oscillators, one with gain and the other with loss. If the coupled oscillators have a balanced loss and gain, the system is described by a Hamiltonian and the energy is conserved. This theoretical model exhibits two PT transitions depending on the size of the coupling parameter \epsilon. For small \epsilon the PT symmetry is broken and the system is not in equilibrium, but when \epsilon becomes sufficiently large, the system undergoes a transition to an equilibrium phase in which the PT symmetry is unbroken. For very large \(\epsilon\) the system undergoes a second transition and is no longer in equilibrium. The classical and the quantized versions of the system exhibit transitions at exactly the same values of \(\epsilon\).

http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.7107
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

The C operator in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics satisfies a system of three simultaneous algebraic operator equations, \(C^2=1\), \([C,PT]=0\), and \([C,H]=0\). These equations are difficult to solve exactly, so perturbative methods have been used in the past to calculate C. The usual approach has been to express the Hamiltonian as \(H=H_0+\epsilon H_1\), and to seek a solution for C in the form \(C=e^Q P\), where \(Q=Q(q,p)\) is odd in the momentum p, even in the coordinate q, and has a perturbation expansion of the form \(Q=\epsilon Q_1+\epsilon^3 Q_3+\epsilon^5 Q_5+\ldots\). [In previous work it has always been assumed that the coefficients of even powers of $\epsilon$ in this expansion would be absent because their presence would violate the condition that \(Q(p,q)\) is odd in p.] In an earlier paper it was argued that the C operator is not unique because the perturbation coefficient \(Q_1\) is nonunique. Here, the nonuniqueness of C is demonstrated at a more fundamental level: It is shown that the perturbation expansion for Q actually has the more general form \(Q=Q_0+\epsilon Q_1+\epsilon^2 Q_2+\ldots\) in which {\it all} powers and not just odd powers of \(\epsilon\) appear. For the case in which \(H_0\) is the harmonic-oscillator Hamiltonian, \(Q_0\) is calculated exactly and in closed form and it is shown explicitly to be nonunique. The results are verified by using powerful summation procedures based on analytic continuation. It is also shown how to calculate the higher coefficients in the perturbation series for Q.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1302.7047
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

It was shown recently that a PT-symmetric \(i\phi^3\) quantum field theory in \(6-\epsilon\) dimensions possesses a nontrivial fixed point. The critical behavior of this theory around the fixed point is examined and it is shown that the corresponding phase transition is related to the existence of a nontrivial solution of the gap equation. The theory is studied first in the mean-field approximation and the critical exponents are calculated. Then, it is examined beyond the mean-field approximation by using renormalization-group techniques, and the critical exponents for \(6-\epsilon\) dimensions are calculated to order \(\epsilon\). It is shown that because of its stability the PT-symmetric \(i\phi^3\) theory has a higher predictive power than the conventional \(\phi^3\) theory. A comparison of the \(i\phi^3\) model with the Lee-Yang model is given.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1301.6207

High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

The paper by Bowen, Mancini, Fessatidis, and Murawski (2012 Phys. Scr. {\bf 85}, 065005) demonstrates in a dramatic fashion the serious difficulties that can arise when one rushes to perform numerical studies before understanding the physics and mathematics of the problem at hand and without understanding the limitations of the numerical methods used. Based on their flawed numerical work, the authors conclude that the work of Bender and Boettcher is wrong even though it has been verified at a completely rigorous level. Unfortunately, the numerical procedures performed and described in the paper by Bowen et al are incorrectly applied and wrongly interpreted.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.0426
Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Mathematical Physics (math-ph)

In this work we analyze PT-symmetric double-well potentials based on a two-mode picture. We reduce the problem into a PT-symmetric dimer and illustrate that the latter has effectively two fundamental bifurcations, a pitchfork (symmetry-breaking bifurcation) and a saddle-center one, which is the nonlinear analog of the PT-phase-transition. It is shown that the symmetry breaking leads to ghost states (amounting to growth or decay); although these states are not true solutions of the original continuum problem, the system’s dynamics closely follows them, at least in its metastable evolution. Past the second bifurcation, there are no longer states of the original continuum system. Nevertheless, the solutions can be analytically continued to yield a new pair of branches, which is also identified and dynamically examined. Our explicit analytical results for the dimer are directly compared to the full continuum problem, yielding a good agreement.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1207.1066
Pattern Formation and Solitons (nlin.PS); Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas); Mathematical Physics (math-ph)

It is shown that if the C operator for a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian with simple eigenvalues is not unique, then it is unbounded. Apart from the special cases of finite-matrix Hamiltonians and Hamiltonians generated by differential expressions with PT-symmetric point interactions, the usual situation is that the C operator is unbounded. The fact that the C operator is unbounded is significant because, while there is a formal equivalence between a PT-symmetric Hamiltonian and a conventionally Hermitian Hamiltonian in the sense that the two Hamiltonians are isospectral, the Hilbert spaces are inequivalent. This is so because the mapping from one Hilbert space to the other is unbounded. This shows that PT-symmetric quantum theories are mathematically distinct from conventional Hermitian quantum theories.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1207.1176
Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Mathematical Physics (math-ph)

Non-Hermitian PT-symmetric quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians generally exhibit a phase transition that separates two parametric regions, (i) a region of unbroken PT symmetry in which the eigenvalues are all real, and (ii) a region of broken PT symmetry in which some of the eigenvalues are complex. This transition has recently been observed experimentally in a variety of physical systems. Until now, theoretical studies of the PT phase transition have generally been limited to one-dimensional models. Here, four nontrivial coupled PT-symmetric Hamiltonians, \(H=p^2/2+x^2/2+q^2/2+y^2/2+igx^2y\), \(H=p^2/2+x^2/2+q^2/2+y^2+igx^2y\), \(H=p^2/2+x^2/2+q^2/2+y^2/2+r^2/2+z^2/2+igxyz\), and \(H=p^2/2+x^2/2+q^2/2+y^2+r^2/2+3z^2/2+igxyz\) are examined. Based on extensive numerical studies, this paper conjectures that all four models exhibit a phase transition. The transitions are found to occur at \(g\approx 0.1\), \(g\approx 0.04\), \(g\approx 0.1\), and \(g\approx 0.05\). These results suggest that the PT phase transition is a robust phenomenon not limited to systems having one degree of freedom.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.5100
Quantum Physics (quant-ph); High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph)

If a Hamiltonian is PT symmetric, there are two possibilities: Either the eigenvalues are entirely real, in which case the Hamiltonian is said to be in an unbroken-PT-symmetric phase, or else the eigenvalues are partly real and partly complex, in which case the Hamiltonian is said to be in a broken-PT-symmetric phase. As one varies the parameters of the Hamiltonian, one can pass through the phase transition that separates the unbroken and broken phases. This transition has recently been observed in a variety of laboratory experiments. This paper explains the phase transition in a simple and intuitive fashion and then describes an extremely elementary experiment in which the phase transition is easily observed.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.4972
Mathematical Physics (math-ph); High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

The conventional double-scaling limit of a quartic quantum field theory is inconsistent because the critical coupling constant is negative. Thus, at the critical coupling the Lagrangian appears to define a quantum theory whose energy is complex. Worse yet, the functional integral for the partition function of the theory does not exist. It is shown that one can avoid these difficulties if one approaches this correlated limit in a PT-symmetric fashion. The partition function is calculated explicitly in the double-scaling limit of an zero-dimensional O(N)-symmetric quartic model.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.4943
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

The PT-symmetric Hamiltonian \(H=p^2+x^2(ix)^\epsilon\) (\(\epsilon\) real) exhibits a phase transition at \(\epsilon=0\). When \(\epsilon\geq0$\) the eigenvalues are all real, positive, discrete, and grow as \(\epsilon\) increases. However, when \(\epsilon<0\) there are only a finite number of real eigenvalues. As \(\epsilon\) approaches -1 from above, the number of real eigenvalues decreases to one, and this eigenvalue becomes infinite at \(\epsilon=-1\). In this paper it is shown that these qualitative spectral behaviors are generic and that they are exhibited by the eigenvalues of the general class of Hamiltonians \(H^{(2n)}=p^{2n}+x^2(ix)^\epsilon\) (\(\epsilon\) real, n=1, 2, 3, …). The complex classical behaviors of these Hamiltonians are also examined.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.4425
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

This paper examines the complex trajectories of a classical particle in the potential \(V(x)=-\cos(x)\). Almost all the trajectories describe a particle that hops from one well to another in an erratic fashion. However, it is shown analytically that there are two special classes of trajectories \(x(t)\) determined only by the energy of the particle and not by the initial position of the particle. The first class consists of periodic trajectories; that is, trajectories that return to their initial position \(x(0)\) after some real time \(T\). The second class consists of trajectories for which there exists a real time \(T\) such that \(x(t+T)=x(t) \pm2 \pi\). These two classes of classical trajectories are analogous to valence and conduction bands in quantum mechanics, where the quantum particle either remains localized or else tunnels resonantly (conducts) through a crystal lattice. These two special types of trajectories are associated with sets of energies of measure 0. For other energies, it is shown that for long times the average velocity of the particle becomes a fractal-like function of energy.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.3330
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

The non-Hermitian PT-symmetric quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian \(H=p^2+x^2(ix)^\epsilon\) has real, positive, and discrete eigenvalues for all \(\epsilon\geq 0\). These eigenvalues are analytic continuations of the harmonic-oscillator eigenvalues \(E_n=2n+1\) (n=0, 1, 2, 3, …) at \(\epsilon=0\). However, the harmonic oscillator also has negative eigenvalues \(E_n=-2n-1\) (n=0, 1, 2, 3, …), and one may ask whether it is equally possible to continue analytically from these eigenvalues. It is shown in this paper that for appropriate PT-symmetric boundary conditions the Hamiltonian \(H=p^2+x^2(ix)^\epsilon\) also has real and {\it negative} discrete eigenvalues. The negative eigenvalues fall into classes labeled by the integer N (N=1, 2, 3, …). For the Nth class of eigenvalues, \(\epsilon\) lies in the range \((4N-6)/3<\epsilon<4N-2\). At the low and high ends of this range, the eigenvalues are all infinite. At the special intermediate value \(\epsilon=2N-2\) the eigenvalues are the negatives of those of the conventional Hermitian Hamiltonian \(H=p^2+x^{2N}\). However, when \(\epsilon\neq 2N-2\), there are infinitely many complex eigenvalues. Thus, while the positive-spectrum sector of the Hamiltonian \(H=p^2+x^2(ix)^\epsilon\) has an unbroken PT symmetry (the eigenvalues are all real), the negative-spectrum sector of \(H=p^2+x^2(ix)^\epsilon\) has a broken PT symmetry (only some of the eigenvalues are real).

http://arxiv.org/abs/1203.6590
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

In a previous paper it was shown that a one-turning-point WKB approximation gives an accurate picture of the spectrum of certain non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonians on a finite interval with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Potentials to which this analysis applies include the linear potential \(V=igx\) and the sinusoidal potential \(V=ig\sin(\alpha x)\). However, the one-turning-point analysis fails to give the full structure of the spectrum for the cubic potential \(V=igx^3\), and in particular it fails to reproduce the critical points at which two real eigenvalues merge and become a complex-conjugate pair. The present paper extends the method to cases where the WKB path goes through a pair of turning points. The extended method gives an extremely accurate approximation to the spectrum of \(V=igx^3\), and more generally it works for potentials of the form \(V=igx^{2N+1}\). When applied to potentials with half-integral powers of \(x\), the method again works well for one sign of the coupling, namely that for which the turning points lie on the first sheet in the lower-half plane.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1203.5702
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

A quantum-mechanical theory is PT-symmetric if it is described by a Hamiltonian that commutes with PT, where the operator P performs space reflection and the operator T performs time reversal. A PT-symmetric Hamiltonian often has a parametric region of unbroken PT symmetry in which the energy eigenvalues are all real. There may also be a region of broken PT symmetry in which some of the eigenvalues are complex. These regions are separated by a phase transition that has been repeatedly observed in laboratory experiments. This paper focuses on the properties of a PT-symmetric ig\phi^3 quantum field theory. This quantum field theory is the analog of the PT-symmetric quantum-mechanical theory described by the Hamiltonian H=p^2+ix^3, whose eigenvalues have been rigorously shown to be all real. This paper compares the renormalization-group properties of a conventional Hermitian g\phi^3 quantum field theory with those of the PT-symmetric ig\phi^3 quantum field theory. It is shown that while the conventional g\phi^3 theory in d=6 dimensions is asymptotically free, the ig\phi^3 theory is like a g\phi^4 theory in d=4 dimensions; it is energetically stable, perturbatively renormalizable, and trivial.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.1244
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

All of the PT-symmetric potentials that have been studied so far have been local. In this paper nonlocal PT-symmetric separable potentials of the form \(V(x,y)=i\epsilon[U(x)U(y)-U(-x)U(-y)]\), where \(U(x)\) is real, are examined. Two specific models are examined. In each case it is shown that there is a parametric region of the coupling strength $\epsilon$ for which the PT symmetry of the Hamiltonian is unbroken and the bound-state energies are real. The critical values of \(\epsilon\) that bound this region are calculated.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1107.2293
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

In nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and in relativistic quantum field theory, time t is a parameter and thus the time-reversal operator T does not actually reverse the sign of t. However, in relativistic quantum mechanics the time coordinate t and the space coordinates x are treated on an equal footing and all are operators. In this paper it is shown how to extend PT symmetry from nonrelativistic to relativistic quantum mechanics by implementing time reversal as an operation that changes the sign of the time coordinate operator t. Some illustrative relativistic quantum-mechanical models are constructed whose associated Hamiltonians are non-Hermitian but PT symmetric, and it is shown that for each such Hamiltonian the energy eigenvalues are all real.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1107.0501
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

A recent paper by Jones-Smith and Mathur extends PT-symmetric quantum mechanics from bosonic systems (systems for which \(T^2=1\)) to fermionic systems (systems for which \(T^2=-1\)). The current paper shows how the formalism developed by Jones-Smith and Mathur can be used to construct PT-symmetric matrix representations for operator algebras of the form \(\eta^2=0\), \(\bar{\eta}^2=0\), \(\eta\bar{\eta}+\bar {\eta} =\alpha 1\), where \(\bar{eta}=\eta^{PT} =PT \eta T^{-1}P^{-1}\). It is easy to construct matrix representations for the Grassmann algebra (\(\alpha=0\)). However, one can only construct matrix representations for the fermionic operator algebra (\(\alpha \neq 0\)) if \(\alpha= -1\); a matrix representation does not exist for the conventional value \(\alpha=1\).

http://arxiv.org/abs/1104.4156
Subjects: High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

This paper revisits earlier work on complex classical mechanics in which it was argued that when the energy of a classical particle in an analytic potential is real, the particle trajectories are closed and periodic, but that when the energy is complex, the classical trajectories are open. Here it is shown that there is a discrete set of eigencurves in the complex-energy plane for which the particle trajectories are closed and periodic.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1102.4822
Mathematical Physics (math-ph); High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th)

Suppose that a system is known to be in one of two quantum states, $|\psi_1 > $ or $|\psi_2 >$. If these states are not orthogonal, then in conventional quantum mechanics it is impossible with one measurement to determine with certainty which state the system is in. However, because a non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian determines the inner product that is appropriate for the Hilbert space of physical states, it is always possible to choose this inner product so that the two states $|\psi_1 > $ and $|\psi_2 > $ are orthogonal. Thus, quantum state discrimination can, in principle, be achieved with a single measurement.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1011.1871
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

Classical mechanics is a singular theory in that real-energy classical particles can never enter classically forbidden regions. However, if one regulates classical mechanics by allowing the energy E of a particle to be complex, the particle exhibits quantum-like behavior: Complex-energy classical particles can travel between classically allowed regions separated by potential barriers. When Im(E) -> 0, the classical tunneling probabilities persist. Hence, one can interpret quantum tunneling as an anomaly. A numerical comparison of complex classical tunneling probabilities with quantum tunneling probabilities leads to the conjecture that as ReE increases, complex classical tunneling probabilities approach the corresponding quantum probabilities. Thus, this work attempts to generalize the Bohr correspondence principle from classically allowed to classically forbidden regions.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1011.0121
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

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-symmetric and non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H=J^2+igu, where again g is real. As in the case of PT-symmetric Hamiltonians constructed from the elements x and p of the Heisenberg algebra, there are two regions in parameter space for this PT-symmetric Hamiltonian, a region of unbroken PT symmetry in which all the eigenvalues are real and a region of broken PT symmetry in which some of the eigenvalues are complex. The two regions are separated by a critical value of g.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1009.3236
High Energy Physics – Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)