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Ali Mostafazadeh

Publications and source records attributed to Ali Mostafazadeh.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
arXiv2003

Classical and Quantum Fermions Linked by an Algebraic Deformation

We study the regular representation $ρ_ζ$ of the single-fermion algebra ${\cal A}_ζ$, i.e., $c^2=c^{+2}=0$, $cc^++c^+c=ζ~1$, for $ζ\in [0,1]$. We show that $ρ_0$ is a four-dimensional nonunitary representation of ${\cal A}_0$ which is faithfully irreducible (it does not admit a proper faithful subrepresentation). Moreover, $ρ_0$ is the minimal faithfully irreducible representation of ${\cal A}_0$ in the sense that every faithful representation of ${\cal A}_0$ has a subrepresentation that is equivalent to $ρ_0$. We therefore identify a classical fermion with $ρ_0$ and view its quantization as the deformation: $ζ:0\to 1$ of $ρ_ζ$. The latter has the effect of mapping $ρ_0$ into the four-dimensional, unitary, (faithfully) reducible representation $ρ_1$ of ${\cal A}_1$ that is precisely the representation associated with a Dirac fermion.

math-ph↗
arXiv2003

Time-Dependent Hilbert Spaces, Geometric Phases, and General Covariance in Quantum Mechanics

We investigate consequences of allowing the Hilbert space of a quantum system to have a time-dependent metric. For a given possibly nonstationary quantum system, we show that the requirement of having a unitary Schreodinger time-evolution identifies the metric with a positive-definite (Ermakov-Lewis) dynamical invariant of the system. Therefore the geometric phases are determined by the metric. We construct a unitary map relating a given time-independent Hilbert space to the time-dependent Hilbert space defined by a positive-definite dynamical invariant. This map defines a transformation that changes the metric of the Hilbert space but leaves the Hamiltonian of the system invariant. We propose to identify this phenomenon with a quantum mechanical analogue of the principle of general covariance of General Relativity. We comment on the implications of this principle for geometrically equivalent quantum systems and investigate the underlying symmetry group.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2003

Pseudo-Unitary Operators and Pseudo-Unitary Quantum Dynamics

We consider pseudo-unitary quantum systems and discuss various properties of pseudo-unitary operators. In particular we prove a characterization theorem for block-diagonalizable pseudo-unitary operators with finite-dimensional diagonal blocks. Furthermore, we show that every pseudo-unitary matrix is the exponential of $i=\sqrt{-1}$ times a pseudo-Hermitian matrix, and determine the structure of the Lie groups consisting of pseudo-unitary matrices. In particular, we present a thorough treatment of $2\times 2$ pseudo-unitary matrices and discuss an example of a quantum system with a $2\times 2$ pseudo-unitary dynamical group. As other applications of our general results we give a proof of the spectral theorem for symplectic transformations of classical mechanics, demonstrate the coincidence of the symplectic group $Sp(2n)$ with the real subgroup of a matrix group that is isomorphic to the pseudo-unitary group U(n,n), and elaborate on an approach to second quantization that makes use of the underlying pseudo-unitary dynamical groups.

math-ph↗
arXiv2003

A Critique of PT-Symmetric Quantum Mechanics

We study the physical content of the PT-symmetric complex extension of quantum mechanics as proposed in Bender et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5243 (1998) and 89, 270401 (2002), and show that as a fundamental probabilistic physical theory it is neither an alternative to nor an extension of ordinary quantum mechanics. We demonstrate that the definition of a physical observable given in the above papers is inconsistent with the dynamical aspect of the theory and offer a consistent notion of an observable.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2003

Wave Function of the Universe and Its Meaning

For a FRW-spacetime coupled to an arbitrary real scalar field, we endow the solution space of the associated Wheeler-DeWitt equation with a Hilbert-space structure, construct the observables, and introduce the physical wave functions of the universe that admit a genuine probabilistic interpretation. We also discuss a proposal for the formulation of the dynamics. The approach to quantum cosmology outlined in this article is based on the results obtained within the theory of pseudo-Hermitian operators.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2003

Is Pseudo-Hermitian Quantum Mechanics an Indefinite-Metric Quantum Theory?

With a view to eliminate an important misconception in some recent publications, we give a brief review of the notion of a pseudo-Hermitian operator, outline pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics, and discuss its basic difference with the indefinite-metric quantum mechanics. In particular, we show that the answer to the question posed in the title is a definite No.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2003

Probability Interpretation for Klein-Gordon Fields and the Hilbert Space Problem in Quantum Cosmology

We give an explicit construction of a positive-definite invariant inner-product for the Klein-Gordon fields, thus solving the old problem of the probability interpretation of Klein-Gordon fields without having to restrict to the subspaces of the positive-frequency solutions. Our method has a much wider domain of application and may be used to obtain the most general invariant inner-product on the solution space of a broad class of Klein-Gordon type evolution equations. We explore its consequences for the solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation associated with the FRW-massive-real-scalar-field models.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2003

Exact PT-Symmetry Is Equivalent to Hermiticity

We show that a quantum system possessing an exact antilinear symmetry, in particular PT-symmetry, is equivalent to a quantum system having a Hermitian Hamiltonian. We construct the unitary operator relating an arbitrary non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with exact PT-symmetry to a Hermitian Hamiltonian. We apply our general results to PT-symmetry in finite-dimensions and give the explicit form of the above-mentioned unitary operator and Hermitian Hamiltonian in two dimensions. Our findings lead to the conjecture that non-Hermitian CPT-symmetric field theories are equivalent to certain nonlocal Hermitian field theories.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2002

Pseudo-Hermiticity and Generalized PT- and CPT-Symmetries

We study certain linear and antilinear symmetry generators and involution operators associated with pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians and show that the theory of pseudo-Hermitian operators provides a simple explanation for the recent results of Bender, Brody and Jones (quant-ph/0208076) on the CPT-symmetry of a class of PT-symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We present a natural extension of these results to the class of diagonalizable pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians H with a discrete spectrum. In particular, we introduce generalized parity (${\cal P}$), time-reversal (${\cal T}$), and charge-conjugation (${\cal C}$) operators and establish the ${\cal PT}$- and ${\cal CPT}$-invariance of H.

math-ph↗
arXiv2002

Hilbert Space Structures on the Solution Space of Klein-Gordon Type Evolution Equations

We use the theory of pseudo-Hermitian operators to address the problem of the construction and classification of positive-definite invariant inner-products on the space of solutions of a Klein-Gordon type evolution equation. This involves dealing with the peculiarities of formulating a unitary quantum dynamics in a Hilbert space with a time-dependent inner product. We apply our general results to obtain possible Hilbert space structures on the solution space of the equation of motion for a classical simple harmonic oscillator, a free Klein-Gordon equation, and the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for the FRW-massive-real-scalar-field models.

math-ph↗
arXiv2002

On the Pseudo-Hermiticity of a Class of PT-Symmetric Hamiltonians in One Dimension

For a given standard Hamiltonian H=[p-A(x)]^2/(2m)+V(x) with arbitrary complex scalar potential V and vector potential A, with x real, we construct an invertible antilinear operator τsuch that H is τ-anti-pseudo-Hermitian, i.e., H^\dagger=τHτ^{-1}. We use this result to give the explicit form of a linear Hermitian invertible operator with respect to which any standard PT-symmetric Hamiltonian with a real degree of freedom is pseudo-Hermitian. Our results do not make use of the assumption that H is diagonalizable or that its spectrum is discrete.

math-ph↗
arXiv2002

Pseudo-Hermiticity for a Class of Nondiagonalizable Hamiltonians

We give two characterization theorems for pseudo-Hermitian (possibly nondiagonalizable) Hamiltonians with a discrete spectrum that admit a block-diagonalization with finite-dimensional diagonal blocks. In particular, we prove that for such an operator H the following statements are equivalent. 1. H is pseudo-Hermitian; 2. The spectrum of H consists of real and/or complex-conjugate pairs of eigenvalues and the geometric multiplicity and the dimension of the diagonal blocks for the complex-conjugate eigenvalues are identical; 3. H is Hermitian with respect to a positive-semidefinite inner product. We further discuss the relevance of our findings for the merging of a complex-conjugate pair of eigenvalues of diagonalizable pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians in general, and the PT-symmetric Hamiltonians and the effective Hamiltonian for a certain closed FRW minisuperspace quantum cosmological model in particular.

math-ph↗
arXiv2002

Pseudo-Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics and Isospectral Pseudo-Hermi tian Hamiltonians

We examine the properties and consequences of pseudo-supersymmetry for quantum systems admitting a pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We explore the Witten index of pseudo-supersymmetry and show that every pair of diagonalizable (not necessarily Hermitian) Hamiltonians with discrete spectra and real or complex-conjugate pairs of eigenvalues are isospectral and have identical degeneracy structure except perhaps for the zero eigenvalue if and only if they are pseudo-supersymmetric partners. This implies that pseudo-supersymmetry is the basic framework for generating non-Hermitian PT-symmetric and non-PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with a real spectrum via a Darboux transformation, and shows that every diagonalizable Hamiltonian H with a discrete spectrum and real or complex-conjugate pairs of eigenvalues may be factored as H=L^# L where L is a linear operator with pseudo-adjoint L^#. In particular, this factorization applies to PT-symmetric and Hermitian Hamiltonians. The nondegenerate two-level systems provide a class of Hamiltonians that are pseudo-Hermitian. We demonstrate the implications of our general results for this class in some detail.

math-ph↗
arXiv2002

Pseudo-Hermiticity versus PT-Symmetry III: Equivalence of pseudo-Her miticity and the presence of antilinear symmetries

We show that a diagonalizable (non-Hermitian) Hamiltonian H is pseudo-Hermitian if and only if it has an antilinear symmetry, i.e., a symmetry generated by an invertible antilinear operator. This implies that the eigenvalues of H are real or come in complex conjugate pairs if and only if H possesses such a symmetry. In particular, the reality of the spectrum of H implies the presence of an antilinear symmetry. We further show that the spectrum of H is real if and only if there is a positive-definite inner-product on the Hilbert space with respect to which H is Hermitian or alternatively there is a pseudo-canonical transformation of the Hilbert space that maps H into a Hermitian operator.

math-ph↗