Quantum phase transitions in certain non-Hermitian systems controlled by non-tridiagonal Hamiltonian matrices are found anomalous. In contrast to the known models with tridiagonal-matrix structure in which the geometric multiplicity of the completely degenerate energy eigenvalue appears always equal to one, this multiplicity is found larger than one in the present models. The phenomenon is interpreted as a confluence of several decoupled Kato's exceptional points of equal or different orders.
Here we present an strategy for the derivation of a time-dependent Dyson map which ensures simultaneously the unitarity of the time evolution and the observability of a quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian. The time-dependent Dyson map is derived through a constructed Schrödinger-like equation governed by the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian itself; despite its time-dependence our scheme ensures the time-independence of the metric operator, a necessary condition for the observability of the quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonian. As an illustrative example we consider a driven Harmonic oscillator described by a time-dep…
The hallmark of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases is the existence of anomalous boundary states, which can only be realized with the corresponding bulk system. In this work, we show that for every Hermitian anomalous boundary mode of the ten Altland-Zirnbauer classes, a non-Hermitian counterpart can be constructed, whose long time dynamics provides a realization of the anomalous boundary state. We prove that the non-Hermitian counterpart is characterized by a point-gap topological invariant, and furthermore, that the invariant exactly matches that of the corresponding Hermitian anoma…
Many indefinite-metric (often called pseudo-Hermitian or PT-symmetric) quantum models H prove "physical" (i.e., Hermitian with respect to an innovated, ad hoc scalar product) inside a characteristic domain of parameters D. This means that the energies get complex (= unobservable) beyond the boundary (= Kato's "exceptional points", EPs). In a solvable example we detect an enlargement of D caused by the emergence of a new degree of freedom. We conjecture that such a beneficial mechanism of a return to the real spectrum near EPs may be generic and largely model-independent.
In this work we address systems described by time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonians under time-dependent Dyson maps. We shown that when starting from a given time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian which is not itself an observable, an infinite chain of gauge linked time-dependent non-observable non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can be derived from it. The matrix elements of the observables associated with all these non observable Hamiltonians are, however, all linked to each other, and in the particular case where global gauges exist, these matrix elements becomes all identical to each other. In…
Topological states in non-Hermitian systems are known to exhibit some anomalous features. Here, we find two new anomalous features of non-Hermitian topological states. We consider a one dimensional nonreciprocal Hamiltonian and show that topological robustness can be practically lost for a linear combination of topological eigenstates in non-Hermitian systems due to the non-Hermitian skin effect. We consider a two dimensional non-Hermitian Chern insulator and show that chirality of topological states can be broken at some parameters of the Hamiltonan. This implies that the topological states a…
Toy quantum Hamiltonians $H\neq H^\dagger$ with real spectra are considered as living on graphs $\mathbb{G}$ which only differ from the standard real line $\mathbb{R}$ locally, on a microscopic fundamental-length scale. In terms of a nontrivial metric the "hidden Hermiticity" property $H= H^\ddagger$ is postulated. Our calculations of the energies (based on a discretization of $\mathbb{G}$) indicate that the nontriviality of the topology of the graph may be responsible for certain nonperturbative features of the energies.
A non-Hermitian extension of a Chern insulator and its bulk-boundary correspondence are investigated. It is shown that in addition to the robust chiral edge states that reflect the nontrivial topology of the bulk (nonzero Chern number), anomalous helical edge states localized only at one edge can appear, which are unique to the non-Hermitian Chern insulator.
The Comment by Xiong et al. (arXiv:1610.06275) criticizing my Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 133903 (2016)] was rejected by Physical Review Letters. In this Reply, I show that all their claims are wrong.
In this paper, with the help of Hermitian/non-Hermitian dynamic strings, the theory of non-Hermitian topological order is developed based on a non-Hermitian Wen-plaquette model. The effective models for bosonic topological excitations (e-particle and m-particle) are Hermitian tight-binding lattice model; the effective model for fermionic topological excitation (f-particle) becomes a non-Hermitian tight-binding lattice model. In addition, the effective pseudo-spin model for topologically degenerate ground states is derived by calculating the expectation values of Hermitian/non-Hermitian topolog…
A non-Hermitian topological insulator is fundamentally different from conventional topological insulators. The non-Hermitian skin effect arises in a nonreciprocal tight binding lattice with open edges. In this case, not only topological states but also bulk states are localized around the edges of the nonreciprocal system. We discuss that controllable switching from topological edge states into topological extended states in a chiral symmetric non-Hermitian system is possible. We show that the skin depth decreases with non-reciprocity for bulk states but increases with it for topological zero …
In this comment, we criticize three main conclusions of the letter\cite{Lee2016}. We show that the concept of fractional winding number(FWN) is factitious, Lee's conclusions on Fig. 3 are finite-size effect and the breakdown of bulk-boundary correspondence (BBBC) cannot be explained by "defective".
The phenomenon of degeneracy of an $N-$plet of bound states is studied in the framework of quantum theory of closed (i.e., unitary) systems. For an underlying Hamiltonian $H=H(λ)$ the degeneracy occurs at a Kato's exceptional point $λ^{(EPN)}$ of order $N$ and of the spectral geometric multiplicity $K<N$. In spite of the phenomenological appeal of the concept (tractable as a quantum phase transition, or as a unitary processes of the loss of the observability of the system), the dedicated literature deals, predominantly, just with the models where $N=2$ and $K=1$. In our paper it is shown that …
Anomalous Localization and Mobility Edges in Non-Hermitian Quasicrystals with Disordered Imaginary Gauge Fields
Sanli Honors College, School of Physics and Electronics Engineering, Shanxi University（山西大学物理与电子工程学院三立荣誉学院）；Institute of Theoretical Physics and State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics Technologies and Devices, Shanxi University（山西大学理论物理研究所量子光学技术与器件国家重点实验室）；State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics Technologies and Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Shanxi University（山西大学激光光谱研究所量子光学技术与器件国家重点实验室）
In Hermitian topological systems, the bulk-boundary correspondence strictly constraints boundary transport to values determined by the topological properties of the bulk. We demonstrate that this constraint can be lifted in non-Hermitian Floquet insulators. Provided that the insulator supports an anomalous topological phase, non-Hermiticity allows us to modify the boundary states independently of the bulk, without sacrificing their topological nature. We explore the ensuing possibilities for a Floquet topological insulator with non-Hermitian time-reversal symmetry, where the helical transport …
Both non-Hermitian systems and the behaviour of emitters coupled to structured baths have been studied intensely in recent years. Here we study the interplay of these paradigmatic settings. In a series of examples, we show that a single quantum emitter coupled to a non-Hermitian bath displays a number of unconventional behaviours, many without Hermitian counterpart. We first consider a unidirectional hopping lattice whose complex dispersion forms a loop. We identify peculiar bound states inside the loop as a manifestation of the non-Hermitian skin effect. In the same setting, emitted photons m…
Berry phases strongly affect the properties of crystalline materials, giving rise to modifications of the semiclassical equations of motion that govern wave-packet dynamics. In non-Hermitian systems, generalizations of the Berry connection have been analyzed to characterize the topology of these systems. While the topological classification of non-Hermitian systems is being developed, little attention has been paid to the impact of the new geometric phases on dynamics and transport. In this work, we derive the full set of semiclassical equations of motion for wave-packet dynamics in a system g…
Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians H possess the real (i.e., observable) spectra inside certain specific domains of parameters D. In general, the determination of their observability-horizon boundaries is difficult. We list the pseudo-Hermitian real N by N matrix Hamiltonians for which the prototype horizons are defined by closed analytic formulae.
We study a general class of PT-symmetric tridiagonal Hamiltonians with purely imaginary interaction terms in the quasi-hermitian representation of quantum mechanics. Our general Hamiltonian encompasses many previously studied lattice models as special cases. We provide numerical results regarding domains of observability and exceptional points, and discuss the possibility of explicit construction of general metric operators (which in turn determine all the physical Hilbert spaces). The condition of computational simplicity for the metrics motivates the introduction of certain one-parametric sp…
We show that the bulk-boundary correspondence for topological insulators can be modified in the presence of non-Hermiticity. We consider a one-dimensional tight-binding model with gain and loss as well as long-range hopping. The system is described by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian that encircles an exceptional point in momentum space. The winding number has a fractional value of 1/2. There is only one dynamically stable zero-energy edge state due to the defectiveness of the Hamiltonian. This edge state is robust to disorder due to protection by a chiral symmetry. We also discuss experimental rea…
In arXiv:0710.5653v1 M. Znojil claims that he has found and corrected an error in my paper: [Phys. Lett. B \textbf{650}, 208 (2007), arXiv:0706.1872v2] and that it is possible to escape its main conclusion, namely that the unitarity of the time-evolution and observability of the Hamiltonian imply time-independence of the metric operator. In this note I give a very short calculation showing that the analysis given by M. Znojil also leads to the same conclusion as of my above-mentioned paper. This is actually a reconfirmation of the validity of the results of the latter paper.
Impurity-induced loss bursts from anomalous scale-free localization in a non-Hermitian dissipative lattice
Institute of Theoretical Physics and State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Shanxi University（山西大学理论物理研究所和量子光学与量子光学器件国家重点实验室）
Starting with the modified Dirac equations for free massive particles with the $γ_5$-extension of the physical mass $m\rightarrow m_1 + γ_5 m_2$, we consider equations of relativistic quantum mechanics in the presence of an external electromagnetic field. The new approach is developing on the basis of existing methods for study the unbroken $\cal PT$ symmetry of Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. The paper shows that this modified model contains the definition of the mass parameter, which may use as the determination of the magnitude scaling of energy $M$. Obviously that the transition to the standar…
The modified Dirac-Pauli equations, which are introduced by means of ${γ_5}$-mass factorization of the ordinary Klein-Gordon operator, are considered. We also take into account the interaction of fermions with the intensive homogenous magnetic field focusing attention to their (g-2) gyromagnetic factor. The basis of this approach is developing of methods for study of the structure of regions of unbroken $\cal PT$ symmetry of Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians which be no studied earlier. For that, without the use of perturbation theory in the external field the exact energy spectra are deduced with re…
Phase transitions in quasi-Hermitian quantum models at exceptional points of order four
The Czech Academy of Sciences, Nuclear Physics Institute（捷克科学院核物理研究所）；Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové（赫拉德茨克拉洛韦大学理学院物理系）；School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University（斯坦伦布什大学数据科学与计算思维学院）；Institute of System Science, Durban University of Technology（德班理工大学系统科学研究所）
I show that a single embedded non-Hermitian defect in a one-dimensional topological system at certain degrees of non-Hermiticity can remove the topological mode from the edge and restore it inside the lattice at the same place where the non-Hermitian defect is placed. I relate this unexpected phenomenon to the wave matching condition and continuity of the wave function at different sites in the lattice. These findings pave the way for controlling the position of topological states at will.
Quantized response is one distinguishing feature of a topological system. In non-Hermitian systems, the spectral winding topology yields quantized steady-state response. By considering two weakly coupled non-Hermitian chains, we discover that the spectral winding topology of one chain can be probed by a steady-state response defined solely on the other chain, even when other important properties, e.g., {energetics} and entanglement entropy, indicate that eigen-solutions are effectively {not hybridized} between the two chains. This intriguing phenomenon, as carefully investigated in a large par…
In a recent paper Jones and Mateo used operator techniques to show that the non-Hermitian $\cP\cT$-symmetric wrong-sign quartic Hamiltonian $H=\half p^2-gx^4$ has the same spectrum as the conventional Hermitian Hamiltonian $\tilde H=\half p^2+4g x^4-\sqrt{2g} x$. Here, this equivalence is demonstrated very simply by means of differential-equation techniques and, more importantly, by means of functional-integration techniques. It is shown that the linear term in the Hermitian Hamiltonian is anomalous; that is, this linear term has no classical analog. The anomaly arises because of the broken pa…
Non-Hermiticity gives rise to unique topological phases without Hermitian analogs. However, the effective field theory has yet to be established. Here, we develop a field-theoretical description of the intrinsic non-Hermitian topological phases. Because of the dissipative and nonequilibrium nature of non-Hermiticity, our theory is formulated solely in terms of spatial degrees of freedom, which contrasts with the conventional theory defined in spacetime. It provides the universal understanding about non-Hermitian topological phenomena, such as the unidirectional transport in one dimension and t…
We generalize the vertex expansion approach of the functional renormalization group to non-Hermitian systems. As certain anomalous expectation values might not vanish, additional terms as compared to the Hermitian case can appear in the flow equations. We investigate the merits and shortcomings of the vertex expansion for non-Hermitian systems by considering an exactly solvable $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric non-linear toy-model and reveal, that in this model, the fidelity of the vertex expansion in a perturbatively motivated truncation schema is comparable with that of the Hermitian case. The verte…
Curvature-Flux Representation of Local Dirac-Node Topology from Non-Hermitian Zeeman Quantum Geometry
College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University（深圳大学物理与光电工程学院）；Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area（粤港澳大湾区量子科学中心）；Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong（香港大学物理系）
We introduce and study a novel class of sensors whose sensitivity grows exponentially with the size of the device. Remarkably, this drastic enhancement does not rely on any fine-tuning, but is found to be a stable phenomenon immune to local perturbations. Specifically, the physical mechanism behind this striking phenomenon is intimately connected to the anomalous sensitivity to boundary conditions observed in non-Hermitian topological systems. We outline concrete platforms for the practical implementation of these non-Hermitian topological sensors (NTOS) ranging from classical meta-materials t…
Quantum phase transitions are intriguing and fundamental cooperative phenomena in physics. Analyzing a superconducting nanowire with spin-dependent non-Hermitian hopping, we discover a topological quantum phase transition driven by infinitesimal cascade instability. The anomalous phase transition is complementary to the universal non-Bloch wave behavior of non-Hermitian systems. We show that an infinite small magnetic field drastically suppresses the non-Hermitian skin effect, inducing a topological phase with Majorana boundary states. Furthermore, by identifying the bulk topological invariant…
Topological stability is an important property for topological materials. However, the non-Hermitian effects may change this situation. Here, we investigate the robustness of edge states in the non-Hermitian Kitaev chain with imbalanced tunneling term and superconducting pairing term. By defining the similarity of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) and magnetic factor, the coalescing phase diagram of the MZMs and corresponding spin polarization phase diagram are provided. Because of the non-Hermitian coalescence effect and non-Hermitian suppression effect induced by the breakdown of sublattice symmetr…
Non-Hermitian wave-packet dynamics and its realization within a non-Hermitian chiral cavity
School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University（上海交通大学物理与天文学院）；Wilczek Quantum Center, School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University（上海交通大学物理与天文学院吴文裕量子中心）；Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences（上海量子科学研究中心）；Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University（上海交通大学李政道研究所）；Shanghai Branch, Hefei National Laboratory（合肥国家实验室上海分部）
