Quasi-Hermitian operators in quantum mechanics and the variational principle

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dc.contributor.authorScholtz F.G.
dc.contributor.authorGeyer H.B.
dc.contributor.authorHahne F.J.W.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:01:15Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:01:15Z
dc.date.issued1992
dc.description.abstractWe establish a general criterion for a set of non-Hermitian operators to constitute a consistent quantum mechanical system, which allows for the normal quantum-mechanical interpretation. This involves the construction of a metric (if it exists) for the given set of non-Hermitian observables. We discuss uniqueness of this metric. We also show that it is not always necessary to construct the metric for the whole set of observables under consideration, but that it is sufficient for some calculational purposes to construct it for a subset only, even though this metric is, in general, not unique. The restricted metric turns out to be particularly useful in the implementation of a variational principle, which we also formulate. © 1992.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationAnnals of Physics
dc.identifier.citation213
dc.identifier.citation1
dc.identifier.issn34916
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/11889
dc.titleQuasi-Hermitian operators in quantum mechanics and the variational principle
dc.typeArticle
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