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Francisco M. Fernández

Publications and source records attributed to Francisco M. Fernández.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Three PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with completely different spectra

We discuss three Hamiltonians, each with a central-field part $H_{0}$ and a PT-symmetric perturbation $igz$. When $H_{0}$ is the isotropic Harmonic oscillator the spectrum is real for all $g$ because $H$ is isospectral to $H_{0}+g^{2}/2$. When $H_{0}$ is the Hydrogen atom then infinitely many eigenvalues are complex for all $g$. If the potential in $H_{0}$ is linear in the radial variable $r$ then the spectrum of $H$ exhibits real eigenvalues for $0<g<g_{c}$ and a PT phase transition at $g_c$.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2015

On recent calculations of resonances for the Stark effect in hydrogen

We show that the resonances of the Stark effect in hydrogen reported in Phys. Rev. A \textbf{88}, 022509 (2013) are considerably less accurate than the number of digits appear to suggest. In particular, the imaginary part of the lowest resonance is several orders of magnitude greater than it should be. We compare the results of that paper with those provided by the Riccati-Padé method, perturbation theory and an asymptotic expansion for the resonance width. The inaccuracy of those results can be traced back to the lack of precision in the calculation of the matrix elements of the secular equation. We carry out a more accurate calculation with the same method and show that the agreement with earlier results of other authors is greatly improved.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2015

On the symmetry of three identical interacting particles in a one-dimensional box

We study a quantum-mechanical system of three particles in a one-dimensional box with two-particle harmonic interactions. The symmetry of the system is described by the point group $D_{3d}$. Group theory greatly facilitates the application of perturbation theory and the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. A great advantage is that every irreducible representation can be treated separately. Group theory enables us to predict the connection between the states for the small box length and large box length regimes of the system. We discuss the crossings and avoided crossings of the energy levels as well as other interesting features of the spectrum of the system.

math-ph↗
arXiv2015

Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and similarity transformations

We show that similarity (or equivalent) transformations enable one to construct non-Hermitian operators with real spectrum. In this way we can also prove and generalize the results obtained by other authors by means of a gauge-like transformation and its generalization. Such similarity transformations also reveal the connection with pseudo-Hermiticity in a simple and straightforward way. In addition to it we consider the positive and negative eigenvalues of a three-parameter non-Hermitian oscillator.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2015

Group theoretical analysis of a quantum-mechanical three-dimensional quartic anharmonic oscillator

This paper illustrates the application of group theory to a quantum-mechanical three-dimensional quartic anharmonic oscillator with $O_{h}$ symmetry. It is shown that group theory predicts the degeneracy of the energy levels and facilitates the application of perturbation theory and the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method as well as the interpretation of the results in terms of the symmetry of the solutions . We show how to obtain suitable symmetry-adapted basis sets.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

On the symmetry of the quantum-mechanical particle in a cubic box

In this paper we show that the point-group (geometrical) symmetry is insufficient to account for the degeneracy of the energy levels of the particle in a cubic box. The discrepancy is due to hidden (dynamical symmetry). We obtain the operators that commute with the Hamiltonian one and connect eigenfunctions of different symmetries. We also show that the addition of a suitable potential inside the box breaks the dynamical symmetry but preserves the geometrical one.The resulting degeneracy is that predicted by point-group symmetry.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

A simple way of approximating the canonical partition functions in statistical mechanics

We propose a simple pedagogical way of introducing the Euler-MacLaurin summation formula in an undergraduate course on statistical mechanics. We put forward two alternative routes: the first one is the simplest and yields the first two terms of the expansion. The second one is somewhat more elaborate and takes into account all the correction terms. We apply both to the calculation of the simplest one-particle canonical partition functions for the translational, vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2014

On an approximation to the Schrödinger equation with the Hellmann potential

We tried to determine the range of validity of a recently proposed modification of the Hellmann potential that leads to analytical eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. We discuss the difficulties that we found in the analysis of the main equations and results. We conclude that the eigenvalues reported by the authors do not exhibit the same order as those of the Hellmann potential thus leading to a different underlying physics. What is more: the spectrum of the modified model is qualitatively different from the one supported by the Hellmann potential.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Small-energy series for one-dimensional quantum-mechanical models with non-symmetric potentials

We generalize a recently proposed small-energy expansion for one-dimensional quantum-mechanical models. The original approach was devised to treat symmetric potentials and here we show how to extend it to non-symmetric ones. Present approach is based on matching the logarithmic derivatives for the left and right solutions to the Schrödinger equation at the origin (or any other point chosen conveniently) . As in the original method, each logarithmic derivative can be expanded in a small-energy series by straightforward perturbation theory. We test the new approach on four simple models, one of which is not exactly solvable. The perturbation expansion converges in all the illustrative examples so that one obtains the ground-state energy with an accuracy determined by the number of available perturbation corrections.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Ad hoc physical Hilbert spaces in Quantum Mechanics

The overall principles of what is now widely known as PT-symmetric quantum mechanics are listed, explained and illustrated via a few examples. In particular, models based on an elementary local interaction V(x) are discussed as motivated by the naturally emergent possibility of an efficient regularization of an otherwise unacceptable presence of a strongly singular repulsive core in the origin. The emphasis is put on the constructive aspects of the models. Besides the overall outline of the formalism we show how the low-lying energies of bound states may be found in closed form in certain dynamical regimes. Finally, once these energies are found real we explain that in spite of a manifest non-Hermiticity of the Hamiltonian the time-evolution of the system becomes unitary in a properly amended physical Hilbert space.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Unitary transformations of a family of two-dimensional anharmonic oscillators

In this paper we analyze a recent application of perturbation theory by the moment method to a family of two-dimensional anharmonic oscillators. By means of straightforward unitary transformations we show that two of the models studied by the authors are separable. Other is unbounded from below and therefore cannot be successfully treated by perturbation theory unless a complex harmonic frequency is introduced in the renormalization process. We calculate the lowest resonance by means of complex-coordinate rotation and compare its real part with the eigenvalue estimated by the authors. A pair of the remaining oscillators are equivalent as they can be transformed into one another by unitary transformations.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Perturbation theory by the moment method and point-group symmetry

We analyze earlier applications of perturbation theory by the moment method (also called inner product method) to anharmonic oscillators. For concreteness we focus on two-dimensional models with symmetry $C_{4v}$ and $C_{2v}$ and reveal the reason why some of those earlier treatments proved unsuitable for the calculation of the perturbation corrections for some excited states. Point-group symmetry enables one to predict which states require special treatment.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Non-Hermitian oscillators with $T_{d}$ symmetry

We analyse some PT-symmetric oscillators with $T_{d}$ symmetry that depend on a potential parameter $g$. We calculate the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for each irreducible representation and for a range of values of $g$. Pairs of eigenvalues coalesce at exceptional points $g_c$; their magnitude roughly decreasing with the magnitude of the eigenvalues. It is difficult to estimate whether there is a phase transition at a nonzero value of $g$ as conjectured in earlier papers. Group theory and perturbation theory enable one to predict whether a given space-time symmetry leads to real eigenvalues for sufficiently small nonzero values of $g$.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Is space-time symmetry a suitable generalization of parity-time symmetry?

We discuss space-time symmetric Hamiltonian operators of the form $% H=H_{0}+igH^{\prime}$, where $H_{0}$ is Hermitian and $g$ real. $H_{0}$ is invariant under the unitary operations of a point group $G$ while $H^{\prime}$ is invariant under transformation by elements of a subgroup $G^{\prime}$ of $G$. If $G$ exhibits irreducible representations of dimension greater than unity, then it is possible that $H$ has complex eigenvalues for sufficiently small nonzero values of $g$. In the particular case that $H$ is parity-time symmetric then it appears to exhibit real eigenvalues for all $% 0 0$. We illustrate the main theoretical results and conclusions of this paper by means of two- and three-dimensional Hamiltonians exhibiting a variety of different point-group symmetries.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Non-hermitean hamiltonians with unitary and antiunitary symmetry

We analyze several non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with antiunitary symmetry from the point of view of their point-group symmetry. It enables us to predict the degeneracy of the energy levels and to reduce the dimension of the matrices necessary for the diagonalization of the Hamiltonian in a given basis set. We can also classify the solutions according to the irreducible representations of the point group and thus analyze their properties separately. One of the main results of this paper is that some PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with point-group symmetry $C_{2v}$ exhibit complex eigenvalues for all values of a potential parameter. In such cases the PT phase transition takes place at the trivial Hermitian limit which suggests that the phenomenon is not robust. Point-group symmetry enables us to explain such anomalous behaviour and to choose a suitable antiunitary operator for the PT symmetry.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

On the real matrix representation of PT-symmetric operators

We discuss the construction of real matrix representations of PT-symmetric operators. We show the limitation of a general recipe presented some time ago for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with antiunitary symmetry and propose a way to overcome it. Our results agree with earlier ones for a particular case.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

On the eigenvalues of some non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with space-time symmetry

We calculate the eigenvalues of some two-dimensional non-Hermitian Hamiltonians by means of a pseudospectral method and straightforward diagonalization of the Hamiltonian matrix in a suitable basis set. Both sets of results agree remarkably well but differ considerably from the eigenvalues obtained some time ago by other authors. In particular, we do not observe the multiple phase transitions claimed to occur in one of the anharmonic oscillators.

quant-ph↗