Application of pseudo-Hermitian quantum mechanics to a complex scattering potential with point interactions

Abstract

We present a generalization of the perturbative construction of the metric operator for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with more than one perturbation parameter. We use this method to study the non-Hermitian scattering Hamiltonian H = p(2)/2m + zeta(-)delta(x + alpha) + zeta(+)delta(x - alpha), where zeta(+/-) and alpha are respectively complex and real parameters and delta(x) is the Dirac delta function. For regions in the space of coupling constants zeta(+/-) where H is quasi-Hermitian and there are no complex bound states or spectral singularities, we construct a (positive-definite) metric operator eta and the corresponding equivalent Hermitian Hamiltonian h. eta turns out to be a (perturbatively) bounded operator for the cases where the imaginary part of the coupling constants have the opposite sign, (sic)(zeta(+)) = -(sic)(zeta(-)). This in particular contains the PT-symmetric case: zeta(+) = zeta*. We also calculate the energy expectation values for certain Gaussian wave packets to study the nonlocal nature of h or equivalently the non-Hermitian nature of H. We show that these physical quantities are not directly sensitive to the presence of the PT - symmetry.