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A quantum system with a non-self-adjoint 2D-harmonic oscillator
Authors: Bebiano, N; da Providencia, J; da Providencia, JP
Ref.: Phys. Scr. 54(9), 095205 (2019)
Abstract: Non-self-adjoint operators with a real discrete spectrum exhibit, in general, a quite different behavior from the one of self-adjoint operators, with the same spectrum. This fact has serious mathematical and physical implications, namely in the rigorous formulation of quantum mechanics (QM), where self-adjointness plays a central role, in particular in the spectral analysis of the involved operators. In this framework, a non-self-adjoint 2D-harmonic oscillator is considered. Its eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, as well as those of its adjoint, are explicitly determined. Although the eigensystems are complete they may not form bases, a drawback for the mathematical formulation of the QM of the system. The existence of a metric operator defining an inner product which renders the Hamiltonian self-adjoint, is discussed.
