Generation of families of spectra in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and scalar bosonic field theory

DOI10.1098/RSTA.2012.0049arXiv1204.4599WikidataQ43573033 ScholiaQ43573033MaRDI QIDQ6232472FDOQ6232472

Authors: Steffen J. Schmidt, S. P. Klevansky 

Publication date: 20 April 2012

Abstract: This paper explains the systematics of the generation of families of spectra for the PT-symmetric quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians $H=p^2+x^2(ix{)}^{e}psilon$, $H=p^2+(x^2{)}^{d}elta$, and $H=p^2-(x^2{)}^{m}u$. In addition, it contrasts the results obtained with those found for a bosonic scalar field theory, in particular in one dimension, highlighting the similarities and differences to the quantum-mechanical case. It is shown that the number of families of spectra can be deduced from the number of noncontiguous pairs of Stokes' wedges that display PT-symmetry. To do so, simple arguments that use the WKB approximation are employed, and these imply that the eigenvalues are real. However, definitive results are in most cases presently only obtainable numerically, and not all eigenvalues in each family may be real. Within the approximations used, it is illustrated that the difference between the quantum-mechanical and the field-theoretical cases lies in the number of accessible regions in which the eigenfunctions decay exponentially. This paper reviews and implements well-known techniques in complex analysis and PT-symmetric quantum theory.

This page was built for publication: Generation of families of spectra in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and scalar bosonic field theory

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6232472)