Extension of the C P T theorem to non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and unstable states

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETB.2015.12.033MaRDI QIDQ2364809zbMATHOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Philip D. Mannheim

Publication date 25 July 2017

Published in Physics Letters B (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1512.03736

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Nonselfadjoint operator theory in quantum theory including creation and destruction operators (81Q12) Axiomatic quantum field theory; operator algebras (81T05)

Abstract: We extend the $CPT$ theorem to quantum field theories with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and unstable states. Our derivation is a quite minimal one as it requires only the time independent evolution of scalar products, invariance under complex Lorentz transformations, and a non-standard but nonetheless perfectly legitimate interpretation of charge conjugation as an anti-linear operator. The first of these requirements does not force the Hamiltonian to be Hermitian. Rather, it forces its eigenvalues to either be real or to appear in complex conjugate pairs, forces the eigenvectors of such conjugate pairs to be conjugates of each other, and forces the Hamiltonian to admit of an anti-linear symmetry. The latter two requirements then force this anti-linear symmetry to be $CPT$, while forcing the Hamiltonian to be real rather than Hermitian. Our work justifies the use of the $CPT$ theorem in establishing the equality of the lifetimes of unstable particles that are charge conjugates of each other. We show that the Euclidean time path integrals of a $CPT$ symmetric theory must always be real. In the quantum-mechanical limit the key results of the $PT$ symmetry program of Bender and collaborators are recovered, with the $C$-operator of the $PT$ symmetry program being identified with the linear component of the charge conjugation operator.

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Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 822677 (Why is no real title available?)
• Comprehensive solution to the cosmological constant, zero-point energy, and quantum gravity problems
• Making the case for conformal gravity
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Cited in

(5)

• Space and time dimensions of algebras with application to Lorentzian noncommutative geometry and quantum electrodynamics
• Complex dynamical properties of coupled van der Pol-Duffing oscillators with balanced loss and gain
• Antilinearity rather than Hermiticity as a guiding principle for quantum theory
• CPT symmetry and properties of the exact and approximate effective Hamiltonians
• The initial value problem for gravitational waves in conformal gravity

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