Petr Siegl

On the metric operator for the imaginary cubic oscillator

We show that the eigenvectors of the PT-symmetric imaginary cubic oscillator are complete, but do not form a Riesz basis. This results in the existence of a bounded metric operator having intrinsic singularity reflected in the inevitable unboundedness of the inverse. Moreover, the existence of non-trivial pseudospectrum is observed. In other words, there is no quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian associated with it via bounded and boundedly invertible similarity transformations. These results open new directions in physical interpretation of PT-symmetric models with intrinsically singular metric, since their properties are essentially different with respect to self-adjoint Hamiltonians, for instance, due to spectral instabilities.

Pseudospectra in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics

We propose giving the mathematical concept of the pseudospectrum a central role in quantum mechanics with non-Hermitian operators. We relate pseudospectral properties to quasi-Hermiticity, similarity to self-adjoint operators, and basis properties of eigenfunctions. The abstract results are illustrated by unexpected wild properties of operators familiar from PT-symmetric quantum mechanics.

On the Similarity of Sturm–Liouville Operators with Non-Hermitian Boundary Conditions to Self-Adjoint and Normal Operators

We consider one-dimensional Schrödinger-type operators in a bounded interval with non-self-adjoint Robin-type boundary conditions. It is well known that such operators are generically conjugate to normal operators via a similarity transformation. Motivated by recent interests in quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians in quantum mechanics, we study properties of the transformations and similar operators in detail. In the case of parity and time reversal boundary conditions, we establish closed integral-type formulae for the similarity transformations, derive a non-local self-adjoint operator similar to the Schrödinger operator and also find the associated “charge conjugation” operator, which plays the role of fundamental symmetry in a Krein-space reformulation of the problem.

{\mathcal {PT}}-symmetric models in curved manifolds

We consider the Laplace–Beltrami operator in tubular neighborhoods of curves on two-dimensional Riemannian manifolds, subject to non-Hermitian parity and time preserving boundary conditions. We are interested in the interplay between the geometry and spectrum. After introducing a suitable Hilbert space framework in the general situation, which enables us to realize the Laplace–Beltrami operator as an m-sectorial operator, we focus on solvable models defined on manifolds of constant curvature. In some situations, notably for non-Hermitian Robin-type boundary conditions, we are able to prove either the reality of the spectrum or the existence of complex conjugate pairs of eigenvalues, and establish similarity of the non-Hermitian m-sectorial operators to normal or self-adjoint operators. The study is illustrated by numerical computations.

Scattering in the PT-symmetric Coulomb potential

Scattering on the -symmetric Coulomb potential is studied along a U-shaped trajectory circumventing the origin in the complex x plane from below. This trajectory reflects symmetry, sets the appropriate boundary conditions for bound states and also allows the restoration of the correct sign of the energy eigenvalues. Scattering states are composed from the two linearly independent solutions valid for non-integer values of the 2L parameter, which would correspond to the angular momentum in the usual Hermitian setting. The transmission and reflection coefficients are written in a closed analytic form, and it is shown that, similar to other -symmetric scattering systems, the latter exhibit the handedness effect. Bound-state energies are recovered from the poles of the transmission coefficients.

Perfect transmission scattering as a PT-symmetric spectral problem

Abstract We establish that a perfect-transmission scattering problem can be described by a class of parity and time reversal symmetric operators and hereby we provide a scenario for understanding and implementing the corresponding quasi-Hermitian quantum mechanical framework from the physical viewpoint. One of the most interesting features of the analysis is that the complex eigenvalues of the underlying non-Hermitian problem, associated with a reflectionless scattering system, lead to the loss of perfect-transmission energies as the parameters characterizing the scattering potential are varied. On the other hand, the scattering data can serve to describe the spectrum of a large class of Schrodinger operators with complex Robin boundary conditions.

New SUSYQM coherent states for Pöschl–Teller potentials: a detailed mathematical analysis

In a recent short note (Bergeron et al 2010 Europhys. Lett. 92 60003), we have presented the good properties of a new family of semi-classical states for Poschl–Teller potentials. These states are built from a supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM) approach and the parameters of these ‘coherent’ states are points in the classical phase space. In this paper, we develop all the mathematical aspects that have been left out of the previous paper (proof of the resolution of unity, detailed calculations of the quantized version of classical observables and mathematical study of the resulting operators: problems of domains, self-adjointness or self-adjoint extensions). Some additional questions such as asymptotic behavior are also studied. Moreover, the framework is extended to a larger class of Poschl–Teller potentials.This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to ‘Coherent states: mathematical and physical aspects’.

Non-self-adjoint graphs

On finite metric graphs we consider Laplace operators, subject to various classes of non-self-adjoint boundary conditions imposed at graph vertices. We investigate spectral properties, existence of a Riesz basis of projectors and similarity transforms to self-adjoint Laplacians. Among other things, we describe a simple way to relate the similarity transforms between Laplacians on certain graphs with elementary similarity transforms between matrices defining the boundary conditions.

Supersymmetric quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians with point interactions on a loop

We explore some aspects of PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with two point interactions. We determine classes of point interactions for which the Hamiltonians are supersymmetric. We prove that these Hamiltonians are quasi-Hermitian and find a very simple formula for the metric operator Θ and its square root Q as well. Further, we present the quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian (with one-point interaction) with a continuous spectrum.

Remarks on the Convergence of Pseudospectra

We establish the convergence of pseudospectra in Hausdorff distance for closed operators acting in different Hilbert spaces and converging in the generalised norm resolvent sense. As an assumption, we exclude the case that the limiting operator has constant resolvent norm on an open set. We extend the class of operators for which it is known that the latter cannot happen by showing that if the resolvent norm is constant on an open set, then this constant is the global minimum. We present a number of examples exhibiting various resolvent norm behaviours and illustrating the applicability of this characterisation compared to known results.