We investigate the transition probabilities for the "flavor" eigenstates in the two-level quantum system, which is described by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with the parity and time-reversal (PT) symmetry. Particularly, we concentrate on the so-called PT-broken phase, where two eigenvalues of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian turn out to be a complex conjugate pair. In this case, we find that the transition probabilities will be unbounded in the limit of infinite time $t \to +\infty$. However, after performing a connection between a non-Hermitian system, which exhibits passive PT-symmetry and global decay, and the neutral-meson system in particle physics, we observe that the diverging behavior of the transition probabilities is actually applicable to the gauge-transformed neutral-meson states, whereas the transition probabilities for physical states are exponentially suppressed by the global decay. We also present a brief review on the situation at the so-called exceptional point, where both the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian coalesce.
A striking feature of non-Hermitian tight-binding Hamiltonians is the high sensitivity of both spectrum and eigenstates to boundary conditions. Indeed, if the spectrum under periodic boundary conditions is point gapped, by opening the lattice the non-Hermitian skin effect will necessarily occur. Finding the exact skin eigenstates may be demanding in general, and many methods in the literature are based on ansatzes and on recurrence equations for the eigenstates' components. Here we devise a general procedure based on the Green's function method to calculate the eigenstates of non-Hermitian tig…
Much has been learned about universal properties of the eigenstate entanglement entropy for one-dimensional lattice models, which is described by a Hermitian Hamiltonian. While very less of it has been understood for non-Hermitian systems. In the present work we study a non-Hermitian, non-interacting model of fermions which is invariant under combined $PT$ transformation. Our models show a phase transition from $PT$ unbroken phase to broken phase as we tune the hermiticity breaking parameter. Entanglement entropy of such systems can be defined in two different ways, depending on whether we con…
We point out that the Lyapunov exponent of the eigenstate places restrictions on the eigenvalue. Consequently, with regard to non-Hermitian systems, even without any symmetry, the non-conservative Hamiltonians can exhibit real spectra as long as Lyapunov exponents of eigenstates inhibit imaginary parts of eigenvalues. Our findings open up a new route to study non-Hermitian physics.
We propose an idea of eigenstate clustering in non-Hermitian systems. We show that non-orthogonal eigenstates can be clustered around exceptional points and illustrate our idea on some models. We discuss that exponential localization of eigenstates at edges due to the non-Hermitian skin effect is a typical example of eigenstate clustering. We numerically see that clustering of localized or extended eigenstates are possible in systems with both open and closed boundaries. We show that gain and loss can enhance eigenstate clustering. We use fidelities and the standard k-means clustering algorith…
Entanglement entropy is a powerful tool in characterizing universal features in quantum many-body systems. In quantum chaotic Hermitian systems, typical eigenstates have near maximal entanglement with very small fluctuations. Here, we show that for Hamiltonians displaying non-Hermitian many-body quantum chaos, modeled by the Ginibre ensemble, the entanglement entropy of typical eigenstates is greatly suppressed. The entropy does not grow with the Hilbert space dimension for sufficiently large systems and the fluctuations are of equal order. We derive the novel entanglement spectrum that has in…
We investigate a uniformly coupled non-Hermitian system with asymmetric coupling amplitude. The asymmetric coupling equals to a symmetric coupling threaded by an imaginary gauge field. In a closed configuration, the imaginary gauge field leads to an imaginary magnetic flux, which induces a non-Hermitian phase transition. For an open boundary, the imaginary gauge field results in an eigenstate localization. The eigenstates under Dirac and biorthogonal norms and the scaling laws are quantitatively investigated to show the affect of asymmetric coupling induced one-way amplification. However, the …
We show that the author of a recent paper [arXiv:2008.04929] put forward some false statements about the eigenstates of Hermitian and non-Hermitian systems. We conjecture that one of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonians for a one-dimensional lattice is similar to an Hermitian one and, consequently, exhibits real eigenvalues. Present theoretical analysis of the eigenvalue equation suggests that one of the sets of numerical results in the criticized paper may not be correct.
Eigenstates exhibit localization at an open edge in a non-Hermitian lattice due to non-Hermitian skin effect. We here explore another interesting feature of non-Hermitian skin effect and predict quasi-stationary solutions, which are approximately time-independent. We show that the transition from such states to eigenstates is dramatically non-perturbative. We discuss that mathematically extending the boundary of a long non-Hermitian lattice to infinity can lead to nontrivial solution. We consider a non-Hermitian variant of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model and predict non-topological but ro…
Non-Hermitian systems with parity-time reversal ($\mathcal{PT}$) or anti-$\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry have attracted a wide range of interest owing to their unique characteristics and counterintuitive phenomena. One of the most extraordinary features is the presence of an exception point (EP), across which a phase transition with spontaneously broken $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry takes place. We implement a Floquet Hamiltonian of a single qubit with anti-$\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry by periodically driving a dissipative quantum system of a single trapped ion. With stroboscopic emission and quantum state tomog…
We explore an alternative way of finding the link between a PT non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and a Hermitian one. Based on the analysis of the scattering problem for an imaginary potential and its time reversal process, it is shown that any real-energy eigenstate of a PT tight-binding lattice with on-site imaginary potentials shares the same wave function with a resonant transmission state of the corresponding Hermitian lattice embedded in a chain. It indicates that the PT eigenstate of a PT non-Hermitian Hamiltonian has connection to the resonance transmission state of the extended Hermitian Hami…
We propose a deformed version of the commutation rule introduced in 1967 by Buchdahl to describe a particular model of the truncated harmonic oscillator. The rule we consider is defined on a $N$-dimensional Hilbert space $\Hil_N$, and produces two biorhogonal bases of $\Hil_N$ which are eigenstates of the Hamiltonians $h=\frac{1}{2}(q^2+p^2)$, and of its adjoint $h^\dagger$. Here $q$ and $p$ are non-Hermitian operators obeying $[q,p]=i(\1-Nk)$, where $k$ is a suitable orthogonal projection operator. These eigenstates are connected by ladder operators constructed out of $q$, $p$, $q^\dagger$ an…
We find that a broken PT-symmetry operator when interacts with suitable Hermitian operator, new system becomes completely un-broken PT symmetry. Further on varying the contribution of Hermiticity one can delay or control the broken PT-symmetry. Further beyond the critical contribution ,the broken PT symmetry becomes unbroken in nature. Analytical as well as numerical models have been presented.
We demonstrate that the existence of a Hermitian time-dependent intertwining operator that maps the non-Hermitian time-dependent energy operator to its Hermitian conjugate and its right to its left eigenstates guarantees the reality of the instantaneous energies. This property holds throughout all three $\cal{PT}$-regimes, in the time-independent scenario referred to as the $\cal{PT}$-symmetric regime, the exceptional point and the spontaneously broken $\cal{PT}$-regime. We also propose a modified adiabatic approximation consisting of an expansion of the wavefunctions in terms the instantaneou…
Explicitly time-dependent pseudo-Hermitian (TDPH) invariants theory systems, with a time-dependent (TD) metric, is developed for a time-dependent non Hermitian (TDNH) quantum systems. We derive a simple relation between the eigenstates of this pseudo-Hermitien (PH) invariant and the solutions of the Schrodinger equation. A physical system is treated in detail: the TD Swanson model, where an explicitly TDPH invariant is derived for this system, the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the invariant are calculated explicitly.
We study state conversion in parity-time (PT) symmetry broken non-Hermitian two level system. We construct a theory and explain underlying mechanism for state conversion and define adiabatic evolutions in non-Hermitian systems. The adiabatic theorem can be used if initial state is an instantaneous eigenstate in Hermitian systems. We show that the system can adiabatically follow the modulationally stable instantaneous eigenstate sooner or later, regardless of initial state if the system parameters are varied slowly in non-Hermitian systems. We discuss the topological feature of dynamical circli…
It is shown that for a given Hermitian Hamiltonian possessing supersymmetry, there is alwayas a non-hermitian Jaynes-Cummings-type Hamiltonian(JCTH) admitting entirely real spectra. The parent supersymmetric Hamiltonian and the corresponding non-hermitian JCTH are simultaneously diagonalizable. The exact eigenstates of these non-hermitian Hamiltonians are constructed algebraically for certain shape-invariant potentials, including a non-hermitian version of the standard Jaynes-Cummings model for which the parent supersymmetric Hamiltonian is the superoscillator. The positive-definite metric ope…
In this paper we undertake an analysis of the eigenstates of two non self-adjoint operators $\hat q$ and $\hat p$ similar, in a suitable sense, to the self-adjoint position and momentum operators $\hat q_0$ and $\hat p_0$ usually adopted in ordinary quantum mechanics. In particular we discuss conditions for these eigenstates to be {\em biorthogonal distributions}, and we discuss few of their properties. We illustrate our results with two examples, one in which the similarity map between the self-adjoint and the non self-adjoint is bounded, with bounded inverse, and the other in which this is n…
We provide the first solution of a time-dependent metric operator for the non-Hermitian Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian. We use this solution to calculate the entanglement between two identical isolated such Hamiltonians. The presence of a non-Hermitian interaction term leads to a spontaneously broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric regime which manifests itself in the exotic time-evolution of entanglement. When the symmetry is broken, oscillatory modes transition into decay. As such that there is a drastic difference in behaviour between the broken and unbroken regimes.
A unique feature of non-Hermitian (NH) systems is the NH skin effect, i.e. the edge localization of an extensive number of bulk-band eigenstates in a lattice with open or semi-infinite boundaries. Unlike extended Bloch waves in Hermitian systems, the skin modes are normalizable eigenstates of the Hamiltonian that originate from the intrinsic non-Hermitian point-gap topology of the Bloch band energy spectra. Here we unravel a fascinating property of NH skin modes, namely self-healing, i.e. the ability to self-reconstruct their shape after being scattered off by a space-time potential.
Floquet exceptional points correspond to the coalescence of two (or more) quasi-energies and corresponding Floquet eigenstates of a time-periodic non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. They generally arise when the oscillation frequency satisfies a multiphoton resonance condition. Here we discuss the interplay between Floquet exceptional points and the chiral dynamics observed, over several oscillation cycles, in a wide class of non-Hermitian systems when they are slowly cycled in opposite directions of parameter space.
We provide a time-dependent Dyson map and metric for the two dimensional harmonic oscillator with a non-Hermitian $i xy$ coupling term. This particular time-independent model exhibits spontaneously broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry and becomes unphysical in the broken regime, with the spectrum becoming partially complex. By introducing an explicit time-dependence into the Dyson map, we provide a time-dependent metric that renders the model consistent across the unbroken and broken regimes.
Constraints of internal symmetry on the non-Hermitian skin effect and bidirectional skin effect under the action of the Hermitian conjugate of time-reversal symmetry
For an arbitrary possibly non-Hermitian matrix Hamiltonian H, that might involve exceptional points, we construct an appropriate parameter space M and the lines bundle L^n over M such that the adiabatic geometric phases associated with the eigenstates of the initial Hamiltonian coincide with the holonomies of L^n. We examine the case of 2 x 2 matrix Hamiltonians in detail and show that, contrary to claims made in some recent publications, geometric phases arising from encircling exceptional points are generally geometrical and not topological in nature.
It is know that PT-symmetric models have real spectra provided the symmetry is not spontaneously broken. Even pseudo-hermitian models have real spectra, which enlarge the the class of non-hermitian models possessing real spectra. We however consider non-hermitian models in higher dimensions which are not necessarily explicit PT-symmetric nor pseudo-hermitian. We show that the models may generate real spectra depending upon the coupling constants of the Hamiltonian. Our models thus further generalize the class of non-hermitian systems, which possess real spectra.
Recently Bender, Brody, Jones and Meister found that in the quantum brachistochrone problem the passage time needed for the evolution of certain initial states into specified final states can be made arbitrarily small, when the time-evolution operator is taken to be non-Hermitian but PT-symmetric. Here we demonstrate that such phenomena can also be obtained for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians for which PT-symmetry is completely broken, i.e. dissipative systems. We observe that the effect of a tunable passage time can be achieved by projecting between orthogonal eigenstates by means of a time-evolut…
We provide exact analytical solutions for a two dimensional explicitly time-dependent non-Hermitian quantum system. While the time-independent variant of the model studied is in the broken PT-symmetric phase for the entire range of the model parameters, and has therefore a partially complex energy eigenspectrum, its time-dependent version has real energy expectation values at all times. In our solution procedure we compare the two equivalent approaches of directly solving the time-dependent Dyson equation with one employing the Lewis-Riesenfeld method of invariants. We conclude that the latter…
It is shown that if a Hamiltonian $H$ is Hermitian, then there always exists an operator P having the following properties: (i) P is linear and Hermitian; (ii) P commutes with H; (iii) P^2=1; (iv) the nth eigenstate of H is also an eigenstate of P with eigenvalue (-1)^n. Given these properties, it is appropriate to refer to P as the parity operator and to say that H has parity symmetry, even though P may not refer to spatial reflection. Thus, if the Hamiltonian has the form H=p^2+V(x), where V(x) is real (so that H possesses time-reversal symmetry), then it immediately follows that H has PT sy…
Exceptional points (EPs), the degeneracy point of non-Hermitian systems, have recently attracted great attention after its ability to greatly enhance the sensitivity of micro-cavities is demonstrated experimentally. Unlike the usual degeneracies in Hermitian systems, at EPs, both the eigenenergies and eigenvectors coalesce. Although some of the exotic properties and potential applications of EPs are explored, the range of EPs studied is largely limited by the experimental capability. Some of the systems, e.g. with higher-order EPs, are hard to achieve with conventional simulations. Here we pro…
We discuss the phase diagram and properties of global vortices in the non-Hermitian parity-time-symmetric relativistic model possessing two interacting scalar complex fields. The phase diagram contains stable PT-symmetric regions and unstable PT-broken regions, which intertwine nontrivially with the U(1)-symmetric and U(1)-broken phases, thus forming rich patterns in the space of parameters of the model. The notion of the PT-symmetry breaking is generalized to the interacting theory. At finite quartic couplings, the non-Hermitian model possesses classical vortex solutions in the PT-symmetric r…
We discuss second quantization, discrete symmetry transformations and inner products in free non-Hermitian scalar quantum field theories with PT symmetry, focusing on a prototype model of two complex scalar fields with anti-Hermitian mass mixing. Whereas the definition of the inner product is unique for theories described by Hermitian Hamiltonians, its formulation is not unique for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Energy eigenstates are not orthogonal with respect to the conventional Dirac inner product, so we must consider additional discrete transformations to define a positive-definite norm. We …
The appearance of topological singularities, namely exceptional points (EPs) is an intriguing feature of parameter-dependent open quantum or wave systems. EPs are the special type of nonHermitian degeneracies where two (or more) eigenstates of the underlying system coalesce. In this paper, we present a three level non-Hermitian Hamiltonian which hosts three interacting eigenstates. The matrix elements are optimized in such a way that the intermediate eigenstate interacts with both the other states and the underlying system hosts at least two different second order EPs. The impact of quasi-stat…
In contrast to Hermitian systems, eigenstates of non-Hermitian ones are in general nonorthogonal. This feature is most pronounced at exceptional points where several eigenstates are linearly dependent. In this work we show that near this point a new effect takes place. It exhibits in energy increases in the system when its parameters change periodically. This effect resembles parametric resonance in a Hermitian system but there is a fundamental difference. It comes from the unique properties of the exceptional point that leads to parametric instability that occurs almost at any change in a par…
Hybrid systems that combine spin ensembles and superconducting circuits provide a promising platform for implementing quantum information processing. We propose a non-Hermitian magnoncircuit-QED hybrid model consisting of two cavities and an yttrium iron garnet (YIG) sphere placed in one of the cavities. Abundant exceptional points (EPs), parity-time (PT )-symmetry phases and PT -symmetry broken phases are investigated in the parameter space. Tripartite highdimensional entangled states can be generated steadily among modes of the magnon and photons in PT -symmetry broken phases, corresponding …
