Husimi dynamics generated by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians

Abstract

The dynamics generated by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are often less intuitive than those of conventional Hermitian systems. Even for models as simple as a complexified harmonic oscillator, the dynamics for generic initial states shows surprising features. Here we analyse the dynamics of the Husimi distribution in a semiclassical limit, illuminating the foundations of the full quantum evolution. The classical Husimi evolution is composed of two factors, (i) the initial Husimi distribution evaluated along phase-space trajectories, and (ii) the final value of the norm corresponding to each phase-space point. Both factors conspire to lead to intriguing dynamical behaviours. We demonstrate how the full quantum dynamics unfolds on top of the classical Husimi dynamics for two instructive examples.