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

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETB.2015.12.033zbMATH Open1367.81058arXiv1512.03736OpenAlexW2192337699WikidataQ114141602 ScholiaQ114141602MaRDI QIDQ2364809FDOQ2364809

Authors: Philip D. Mannheim 

Publication date: 25 July 2017

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

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.

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

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

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

Cites Work

• Real Spectra in Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians Having<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi mathvariant="bold-script">P</mml:mi><mml:mi mathvariant="bold-script">T</mml:mi></mml:math>Symmetry
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Making the case for conformal gravity
• Comprehensive solution to the cosmological constant, zero-point energy, and quantum gravity problems

Cited In (5)

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

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