In the quantum mechanics, special states such as eigenstate, basis states, and ground state are defined. I may be know these definitions, but I'm very confusing; this confusion occurred when I studying the Two-state quantum system. **My questions are shown below**. > **【My questions】**<br> Is it possible to realize a Two-state quantum system having basis states $|1>$ and $|2>$ under the Hamiltonian of (1-3)' below ? If so, why? Here, $|1>$ and $|2>$ are expressed as follows. $$|1>:=\left(\begin{matrix}1\\0\\\end{matrix}\right) \tag{1-1}$$ $$|2>:=\left(\begin{matrix}0\\1\\\end{matrix}\right) \tag{1-2}$$ According to the [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-state_quantum_system), the Hamiltonian $H$ of the two-state quantum system, **whose basis states are $|1>$ and $|2>$** should be written in the form of (1-3). Here, ${\varepsilon_1}$ and ${\varepsilon_2}$ are real number, $\gamma$ is a complex number, and $\bar{\gamma}$ is a conjugate complex number of the $\gamma$. $$H={\varepsilon_1}\left|1><1|\ +{\varepsilon_2}\right|2><2|\ +\ \bar{\gamma}|1><2|\ +\ \gamma|2><1| \tag{1-3}$$ Following (1-4) is the [matrix representation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_representation) of the $H$ of (1-3) $$\left(\begin{matrix}\varepsilon_1&\bar{\gamma}\\ \gamma &\varepsilon_2\\\end{matrix}\right)\tag{1-4}$$ Therefore, the Hamiltonian of equation (1-4) 'should be appropriate as the Hamiltonian of the two-state system; this is just a special case of ${\varepsilon_1} =\gamma=1$, and ${\varepsilon_2} =-1$ in the (1-3). $$H=\left|1><1|\ -\right|2><2|\ +\ |1><2|\ +\ |2><1| \tag{1-3'}$$ Following (1-4)' is the matrix representation of the $H$ of (1-3)'. $$\left(\begin{matrix}1&1\\1&-1\\\end{matrix}\right)\tag{1-4'}$$ From the assumption, the possible states are $|1>$ or $|2>$. Or, the $|1>$ or $|2>$ are the most stable states. On the other hand, the $\varphi$ is an eigenstate of the hamiltonian $H$ iff the $\varphi$ is the eigenvector. In this sence, eigenstates are nothing but the following $\varphi_{-\sqrt{2}}$ and $\varphi_{\sqrt{2}}$. $$\varphi_{-\sqrt2}:=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\left(2+\sqrt2\right)}}\left(\begin{matrix}1\\-\sqrt{2\ }\ -1\\\end{matrix}\right)$$ $$\varphi_{\sqrt2}:=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\left(2-\sqrt2\right)}}\left(\begin{matrix}1\\ \sqrt{2\ }\ -1\\\end{matrix}\right)$$ The smallest eigenvalue is ${-\sqrt2}$, so $\varphi_{-\sqrt2}$ might be the [ground state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_state), but neither $|1>$ nor $|2>$ might be ground state; the expected value of energy of $|1>$ and $|2>$ seems higher than $-\sqrt{2}$, therefore, I have no idea why $|1>$ and $|2>$ are 'preferred' state; these are unlikely to be the [stable state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stationary_state).