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Bernard K. Meister

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard K. Meister.

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PT-symmetric quantum state discrimination

Suppose that a system is known to be in one of two quantum states, $|ψ_1 > $ or $|ψ_2 >$. If these states are not orthogonal, then in conventional quantum mechanics it is impossible with one measurement to determine with certainty which state the system is in. However, because a non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian determines the inner product that is appropriate for the Hilbert space of physical states, it is always possible to choose this inner product so that the two states $|ψ_1 > $ and $|ψ_2 > $ are orthogonal. Thus, quantum state discrimination can, in principle, be achieved with a single measurement.

hep-th