We consider a nonrelativistic quantum particle constrained to a curved layer of constant width built over a non-compact surface embedded in $R^3$. We suppose that the latter is endowed with the geodesic polar coordinates and that the layer has the hard-wall boundary. Under the assumption that the surface curvatures vanish at infinity we find sufficient conditions which guarantee the existence of geometrically induced bound states.Comment: 20 pages in LaTe

We show that the eigenvectors of the PT-symmetric imaginary cubic oscillator are complete, but do not form a Riesz basis. This results in the existence of a bounded metric operator having intrinsic singularity reflected in the inevitable unboundedness of the inverse. Moreover, the existence of non-trivial pseudospectrum is observed. In other words, there is no quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian associated with it via bounded and boundedly invertible similarity transformations. These results open new directions in physical interpretation of PT-symmetric models with intrinsically singular metric, since their properties are essentially different with respect to self-adjoint Hamiltonians, for instance, due to spectral instabilities.Comment: 7 pages; completely rewritten, new result

We introduce a very simple, exactly solvable PT -symmetric non-Hermitian model with real spectrum, and derive a closed formula for the metric operator which relates the problem to a Hermitian one.

We propose giving the mathematical concept of the pseudospectrum a central role in quantum mechanics with non-Hermitian operators. We relate pseudospectral properties to quasi-Hermiticity, similarity to self-adjoint operators, and basis properties of eigenfunctions. The abstract results are illustrated by unexpected wild properties of operators familiar from PT-symmetric quantum mechanics.Comment: version accepted for publication in J. Math. Phys.: criterion excluding basis property (Proposition 6) added, unbounded time-evolution discussed, new reference