Real eigenvalues are determined by the recursion of eigenstates

Abstract

Quantum physics is generally concerned with real eigenvalues due to the unitarity of time evolution. With the introduction of $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry, a widely accepted consensus is that, even if the Hamiltonian of the system is not Hermitian, the eigenvalues can still be pure real under specific symmetry. Hence, great enthusiasm has been devoted to exploring the eigenvalue problem of non-Hermitian systems. In this work, from a distinct perspective, we demonstrate that real eigenvalues can also emerge under the appropriate recursive condition of eigenstates. Consequently, our findings provide another path to extract the real energy spectrum of non-Hermitian systems, which guarantees the conservation of probability and stimulates future experimental observations.