Hermitian Hamiltonian for KG equation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the transformation of the Klein-Gordon (KG) equation into a Hermitian Hamiltonian form using the Feshbach-Villars transformation. Participants explore the implications of non-Hermitian matrices in this context and seek clarification on methods to achieve a Hermitian Hamiltonian suitable for perturbation theory.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the KG equation in terms of two coupled fields and notes that the resulting matrix is not Hermitian.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of having access to Bjorken and Drell's text for understanding the transformation process.
  • A different participant suggests that the Hermitian nature of the matrix may depend on considerations related to infinite momentum.
  • One participant expresses the need to transform the Hamiltonian to a Hermitian form for use in perturbation theory, highlighting concerns about the introduction of extra factors in the perturbation series.
  • Another participant provides a link to an external resource and expresses skepticism about the possibility of transforming a Hamiltonian to be Hermitian, mentioning that non-Hermitian parts are often dropped.
  • A later reply reiterates doubts about the transformation process, referencing Bjorken and Drell to clarify that the transformation is not unitary and leads to a Hermitian Hamiltonian.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of transforming the Hamiltonian to a Hermitian form, with some questioning the process and others seeking clarification on specific methods. No consensus is reached regarding the transformation's validity or the implications for perturbation theory.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in their understanding of the transformation process and the implications of non-Hermitian matrices. There are unresolved questions about the definitions and conditions under which Hermitianity is defined in this context.

ShayanJ
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Using the Feshbach-Villars transformation, its possible to write the KG equation as two coupled equations in terms of two fields as below:

## i\partial_t \phi_1=-\frac{1}{2m} \nabla^2(\phi_1+\phi_2)+m\phi_1##
## i\partial_t \phi_2=\frac{1}{2m} \nabla^2(\phi_1+\phi_2)-m\phi_2##

Then we can combine the two fields into a column matrix ##\mathbf \Phi=(\phi_1 \ \ \ \phi_2)^T ## and write the above two equations as below:## i\partial_t \mathbf \Phi=-\frac{1}{2m} \left( \begin{array}{cc} 1 \ \ \ \ \ \ 1 \\ -1 \ \ \ -1 \end{array} \right)\nabla^2 \mathbf \Phi+m\left( \begin{array}{cc}1 \ \ \ \ \ \ 0 \\ 0 \ \ \ -1 \end{array} \right) \mathbf \Phi=H \mathbf \Phi##

But the problem is, the matrix ## \left( \begin{array}{cc} 1 \ \ \ \ \ \ 1 \\ -1 \ \ \ -1 \end{array} \right) ## is not Hermitian. Bjorken and Drell(section 9.7) transform the Hamiltonian to a Hermitian one but I don't understand their method. Can anyone explain?

Thanks
 
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In the beginning, I have the same problem at here. However, I think the Hermitian of this matrix should consider the infinity of momentum.
 
Although the method used in the reference ChrisVer pointed to is really nice, I still need to know how to transform the Hamiltonian to a Hermitian form because when we want to use this form of KG equation in perturbation theory, the form of the resulting perturbation series depends on the method used. Surely using the method in the above reference will introduce an extra factor in the series but what I'm trying the get out of KG equation, is the perturbation series without that factor.
The reason I'm pursuing this is that in the textbook Quarks and Leptons by Halzen and Martin, section 3.6, they derive a perturbation series using an equation of the form ##(H_0 +V(\mathbf x,t))\psi=i \frac{\partial \psi}{\partial t}##, where the Hamiltonian is assumed to be Hermitian in the usual sense and then its eigenfunctions are used. I want to show that the KG equation can indeed be written in this form but now I'm stuck in transforming the Hamiltonian in the OP to a Hermitian form.
 
Would that be helpful then?
http://arxiv.org/abs/0810.5643v4

I am not sure that you can transform a hamiltonian to be hermiatian - most of the times you drop out the non-hermitian parts.
What changes is the way you define hermitianity via : H^\dagger = a H a^{-1} where a a linear hermitian automorphism.
http://arxiv.org/abs/1401.5255
you can have a look here for some things concerning these.
 
ChrisVer said:
I am not sure that you can transform a hamiltonian to be hermiatian
This is from Bjorken and Drell:
The transformation (9.49) to (9.51) is not unitary and leads from a hamiltonian (9.48) which is not hermitian to a new one which is
 

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