Eigenenergies of a non-Hermitian system without parity-time symmetry are complex in general. Here, we show that the chiral boundary states of higher-dimensional (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) non-Hermitian topological insulators without parity-time symmetry can be Hermitian with real eigenenergies under certain conditions. Our approach allows one to construct Hermitian chiral edge and hinge states from non-Hermitian two-dimensional Chern insulators and three-dimensional second-order topological insulators, respectively. Such Hermitian chiral boundary channels have perfect transmission coefficients (quantized values) and are robust against disorders. Furthermore, a non-Hermitian topological insulator can undergo the topological Anderson insulator transition from a topological trivial non-Hermitian metal or insulator to a topological Anderson insulator with quantized transmission coefficients at finite disorders.
We study a non-Hermitian non-Abelian topological insulator preserving $PT$ symmetry, where the non-Hermitian term represents nonreciprocal hoppings. As it increases, a spontaneous $PT$ symmetry breaking transition occurs in the perfect-flat band model from a real-line-gap topological insulator into an imaginary-line-gap topological insulator. By introducing a band bending term, we realize two phase transitions, where a metallic phase emerges between the above two topological insulator phases. We discuss an electric-circuit realization of non-Hermitian non-Abelian topological insulators. We fin…
In two-dimensional anomalous Floquet insulators, non-Hermitian boundary state engineering can be used to completely separate chiral boundary states from bulk bands in the quasienergy spectrum. The topological properties of such spectrally separated boundary states are no longer restricted by the strict bulk-boundary correspondence of Hermitian systems. We show that this additional topological freedom enables one to faithfully transfer the topological properties of a boundary attached to a Floquet insulator to a non-Hermitian Floquet chain obtained by physically cutting off the boundary from th…
In this letter we study the Hall conductance for a non-Hermitian Chern insulator and quantitatively describe how the Hall conductance deviates from a quantized value. We show the effects of the non-Hermitian terms on the Hall conductance are two folds. On one hand, it broadens the density-of-state of each band, because of which there always exists a non-universal bulk contribution. On the other hand, it adds decay term to the edge state, because of which the topological contribution also deviates from the quantized Chern number. We provides a simple formula for the topological contribution for…
The generalized bulk-boundary correspondence predicts the existence of the chiral hinge states in three-dimensional second-order topological insulators (3DSOTIs), resulting in a quantized Hall effect in three dimensions. Chiral hinge states in Hermitian 3DSOTIs are characterized by the quantized transmission coefficients with zero fluctuations, even in the presence of disorders. Here, we show that chiral hinge transport in disordered non-Hermitian systems deviates from the paradigm of the Hermitian case. Our numerical calculations prove the robustness of hinge states of disordered non-Hermitia…
A non-Hermitian Chern insulator with gain/loss-type non-Hermiticity shows a peculiar gap closing; when a nontrivial Chern insulator phase changes to a gapless phase, conduction and valence bands are combined into one band owing to destabilization of chiral edge states. A previous recipe of non-Hermitian bulk-boundary correspondence is insufficient for this system since such a gap closing is beyond its scope. Here, we revise the recipe by taking the peculiar gap closing into account and apply it to the non-Hermitian Chern insulator. We demonstrate that the bulk-boundary correspondence holds in …
Breaking Hermiticity in topological systems gives rise to intriguing phenomena, such as the exceptional topology and the non-Hermitian skin effect. In this work, we study a non-Hermitian topological crystalline insulator sitting on the Kekulé-modulated honeycomb lattice with balanced gain and loss. We find that the gaplessness of the topological edge states in the non-Hermitian system is insensitive to edge geometries under moderate strength of gain and loss, unlike the cases of Hermitian topological crystalline insulators that depend on edge geometries crucially. We focus on two types of gain…
A scenario of non-Hermitian bulk--boundary correspondence proposed for one-dimensional topological insulators is adapted to a non-Hermitian Chern insulator to examine its applicability to two-dimensional systems. This scenario employs bulk geometry under a modified periodic boundary condition and boundary geometry under an open boundary condition. The bulk geometry is used to define a topological number, whereas the boundary geometry is used to observe the presence or absence of a topological boundary state. It is demonstrated that the bulk--boundary correspondence holds in a two-dimensional C…
We investigate the Hall conductance of a two-dimensional Chern insulator coupled to an environment causing gain and loss. Introducing a biorthogonal linear response theory, we show that sufficiently strong gain and loss lead to a characteristic non-analytical contribution to the Hall conductance. Near its onset, this contribution exhibits a universal power-law with a power 3/2 as a function of Dirac mass, chemical potential and gain strength. Our results pave the way for the study of non-Hermitian topology in electronic transport experiments.
Recent work has extended topological band theory to open, non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, yet little is understood about how non-Hermiticity alters the topological quantization of associated observables. We address this problem by studying the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) generated in the Dirac surface states of a 3D time-reversal-invariant topological insulator (TI) that is proximity-coupled to a metallic ferromagnet. By constructing a contact self-energy for the ferromagnet, we show that in addition to generating a mass gap in the surface spectrum, the ferromagnet can introduce a non-Her…
Anomalous Non-Hermitian Topological Anderson Insulator
Shanghai Normal University（上海师范大学）；MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro-Structured Materials, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University（同济大学物理科学与技术学院教育部先进微结构材料重点实验室）
We study a non-Hermitian and non-unitary version of the two-dimensional Chalker-Coddington network model with balanced gain and loss. This model belongs to the class D^dagger with particle-hole symmetry^dagger and hosts both the non-Hermitian skin effect as well as exceptional points. By calculating its two-terminal transmission, we find a novel contact effect induced by the skin effect, which results in a non-quantized transmission for chiral edge states. In addition, the model exhibits an insulator to 'supermetal' transition, across which the transmission changes from exponentially decaying …
The quantized conductance plateaus and zero conductance fluctuation are the general consequence of electron transport in chiral edge states of Hermitian Chern insulators. Here we show that the physics of electron transport through chiral or helical edge channels becomes much richer when the non-Hermicity is allowed. In the presence of an unbalanced non-Hermicity where the chiral edge states have finite-lifetime, the conductance of the edge channels is not quantized, but its conductance fluctuation is zero. For the balanced non-Hermicity, however, the chiral edge states have infinite-lifetime, …
Topology plays a central role in nearly all disciplines of physics, yet its applications have so far been restricted to closed, lossless systems in thermodynamic equilibrium. Given that many physical systems are open and may include gain and loss mechanisms, there is an eminent need to reexamine topology within the context of non-Hermitian theories that describe open, lossy systems. The recent generalization of the Chern number to non-Hermitian Hamiltonians initiated this reexamination; however, there is so far no established connection between a non-Hermitian topological invariant and the qua…
We analyze the non-Hermitian Haldane model where the spin-orbit interaction is made non-Hermitian. The Dirac mass becomes complex. We propose to realize it by an $LC$ circuit with operational amplifiers. A topological phase transition is found to occur at a critical point where the real part of the bulk spectrum is closed. The Chern number changes its value when the real part of the mass becomes zero. In the topological phase of a nanoribbon, two non-Hermitian chiral edges emerge connecting well separated conduction and valence bands. The emergence of the chiral edge states is signaled by a st…
We study the characterization and realization of higher-order topological Anderson insulator (HOTAI) in non-Hermitian systems, where the non-Hermitian mechanism ensures extra symmetries as well as gain and loss disorder.We illuminate that the quadrupole moment $Q_{xy}$ can be used as the real space topological invariant of non-Hermitian higher-order topological insulator (HOTI). Based on the biorthogonal bases and non-Hermitian symmetries, we prove that $Q_{xy}$ can be quantized to $0$ or $0.5$. Considering the disorder effect, we find the disorder-induced phase transition from normal insulato…
The Hopf insulator is a three-dimensional topological insulator outside the standard classification of topological insulators. Here we consider two types of non-Hermitian Hopf insulators, one without and one with the non-Hermitian skin effect. The isolated gapless points of the Hermitian model are broadened into finite regimes in the non-Hermitian models. However, the modulus of the Hopf index remains quantized in the gapped regions. The model without the non-Hermitian skin effect allows an accurate evaluation of its generalized Hopf index and energy spectrum, showing an agreement between the …
Higher-order topological phases are characterized by protected states localized at the corners or hinges of the system. By applying time-periodic quenches to a two-dimensional lattice with balanced gain and loss, we obtain a rich variety of non-Hermitian Floquet second order topological insulating phases. Each of the phases is characterized by a pair of integer topological invariants, which predict the numbers of Floquet corner modes at zero and $π$ quasienergies. We establish the topological phase diagram of the model, and find a series of non-Hermiticity induced transitions between different…
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.
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 …
Quantized bulk quadrupole moment has unveiled a nontrivial boundary state, exhibiting lower-dimensional topological edge states and simultaneously hosting the in-gap corner modes of zero dimension. All state-of-the-art strategies for topological thermal metamaterials have so far failed to observe such higher-order hierarchical features, since the absence of quantized bulk quadrupole moments in thermal diffusion fundamentally forbids the possible expansions of band topology, unlike its photonic counterpart. Here, we report a recipe of creating quantized bulk quadrupole moments in diffusion, and…
Spectra of bulk or edges in topological insulators are often made complex by non-Hermiticity. Here, we show that symmetry protection enables entirely real spectra for both bulk and edges even in non-Hermitian topological insulators. In particular, we demonstrate entirely real spectra without non-Hermitian skin effects due to a combination of pseudo-Hermiticity and Kramers degeneracy. This protection relies on nonspatial fundamental symmetry and has stability against disorder. As an illustrative example, we investigate a non-Hermitian extension of the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model. The helical ed…
We investigate topological and disorder effects in non-Hermitian systems with chiral symmetry. The system under consideration consists in a finite Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain to which two semi-infinite leads are attached. The system lacks the parity-time and time-reversal symmetries and is appropriate for the study of quantum transport properties. The complex energy spectrum is analyzed in terms of the chain-lead coupling and chiral disorder strength, and shows substantial differences between chains with even and odd number of sites. The mid-gap edge states acquire a finite lifetime and are bot…
We unveil the geometrical meaning of winding number and utilize it to characterize the topological phases in one-dimensional chiral non-Hermitian systems. While chiral symmetry ensures the winding number of Hermitian systems being integers, it can take half integers for non-Hermitian systems. We give a geometrical interpretation of the half integers by demonstrating that the winding number $ν$ of a non-Hermitian system is equal to half of the summation of two winding numbers $ν_1$ and $ν_2$ associated with two exceptional points respectively. The winding numbers $ν_1$ and $ν_2$ represent the t…
Ocean University of China（中国海洋大学）；Qingdao Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronics（青岛先进光电学重点实验室）；Engineering Research Center of Advanced Marine Physical Instruments and Equipment of MOE（教育部海洋高端物理仪器和设备工程研究中心）
We analyze the Chiral Magnetic Effect for non-Hermitian fermionic systems using the biorthogonal formulation of quantum mechanics. In contrast to the Hermitian chiral counterparts, we show that the Chiral Magnetic Effect may take place in thermal equilibrium of an open non-Hermitian system with, generally, massive fermions. The key observation is that for non-Hermitian charged systems, there is no strict charge conservation as understood in the Hermitian case, so the Bloch theorem preventing currents in the thermodynamic limit in equilibrium does not apply.
We study topological properties of one-dimensional non-Hermitian systems without chiral symmetry and give phase diagrams characterized by topological invariants $ν_E$ and $ν_{total}$, associated with complex energy vorticity and summation of Berry phases of complex bands, respectively. In the absence of chiral symmetry, we find that the phase diagram determined by $ν_E$ is different from $ν_{tot}$. While the transition between phases with different $ν_{E}$ is closely related to the band-touching point, the transition between different $ν_{tot}$ is irrelevant to the band-touching condition. We …
Non-Hermiticity alters topology with the presence of non-Hermitian factors in topological systems. Most existing non-Hermitian topological systems derive their topological phases from Hermitian components, that is, the gain and loss of the system are considered simultaneously. In this work, we reveal two-dimensional non-Hermitian high-order topological insulator based on one-dimensional SSH chain, the nontrivial topology of which induced by total-loss. By introducing the loss of a specific configuration, we get a band gap with corner and edge states whose topology is characterized by the gappe…
We propose to uncover the topology of a pseudo-Hermitian Chern insulator by quantum quench dynamics. The Bloch Hamiltonian of the pseudo-Hermitian Chern insulator is defined in the basis of the q-deformed Pauli matrices, which are related to the representation of the deformed algebras. We show the bulk-surface duality of the pseudo-Hermitian phases, then further build a concrete relation between the static band topology and quench dynamics, in terms of the time-averaged spin textures. The results are also generalized into a fully nonequilibrium case where the postquench evolution is governed b…
The interplay between non-Hermiticity and topology opens an exciting avenue for engineering novel topological matter with unprecedented properties. While previous studies have mainly focused on one-dimensional systems or Chern insulators, here we investigate topological phase transitions to/from quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulators driven by non-Hermiticity. We show that a trivial to QSH insulator phase transition can be induced by solely varying non-Hermitian terms, and there exists exceptional edge arcs in QSH phases. We establish two topological invariants for characterizing the non-Hermitian…
It was known that for non-Hermitian topological systems due to the non-Hermitian skin effect, the bulk-edge correspondence is broken down. In this paper, by using one-dimensional Su-SchriefferHeeger model and two-dimensional (deformed) Qi-Wu-Zhang model as examples, we focus on a special type of non-Hermitian topological system without non-Hermitian skin effect-topological systems under non-Hermitian similarity transformation. In these non-Hermitian systems, the defective edge states and the breakdown of bulk-edge correspondence are discovered. To characterize the topological properties, we in…
We show that topological phases of the Dirac system in arbitral even dimensional space are simulated by $LC$ electric circuits with operational amplifiers. The lattice Hamiltonian for the hypercubic lattice in $2n$ dimensional space is characterized by the $n$-th Chern number. The boundary state is described by the Weyl theory in $2n-1$ dimensional space. They are well observed by measuring the admittance spectrum. They are different from the disentangled $n$-th Chern insulators previously reported, where the $n$-th Chern number is a product of the first Chern numbers. The results are extended…
Where chiral modes should appear is an essential question for the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect in three-dimensional topological insulators (3DTIs). In this Letter, we show that in a slab of ferromagnetic 3DTI subjected to a uniform exchange field normal to its top and bottom surfaces, the QAH effect creates a single chiral surface mode delocalized on the side faces. In a nonmagnetic 3DTI, analogously, delocalized helical modes consisting of a pair of oppositely propagating chiral surface modes are produced by the quantum spin Hall effect.
We propose a magnon realization of 3D topological insulator in the AIII (chiral symmetry) topological class. The topological magnon gap opens due to the presence of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions. The existence of the topological invariant is established by calculating the bulk winding number of the system. Within our model, the surface magnon Dirac cone is protected by the sublattice chiral symmetry. By analyzing the magnon surface modes, we confirm that the backscattering is prohibited. By weakly breaking the chiral symmetry, we observe the magnon Hall response on the surface due to open…
Topological metal-insulator transitions in one-dimensional non-Hermitian quasicrystals: beyond PT-symmetry
College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Ocean University of China（中国海洋大学物理与光电工程学院）；Qingdao Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronics（青岛先进光电子重点实验室）；Engineering Research Center of Advanced Marine Physical Instruments and Equipment of MOE（教育部海洋高端装备工程研究中心）；Department of Physics, National University of Singapore（新加坡国立大学物理系）；Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore（新加坡国立大学量子技术中心）；MajuLab, CNRS-UCA-SU-NUS-NTU International Joint Research Unit（马久实验室，CNRS-南法大学-苏黎世联邦理工学院-新加坡国立大学-南洋理工大学国际联合研究单位）；Center for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, China-EU Joint Lab on Nanophononics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Special Artificial Microstructure Materials and Technology, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University（同济大学物理科学与技术学院，声子学与热能科学中心，中欧纳米声子学联合实验室，上海市特殊人工微结构材料与技术重点实验室）
We study second-order topological insulators and semimetals characterized by chiral symmetry. We investigate topological phase transitions of a model for construction of the two-dimensional second-order topological insulators protected only by chiral symmetry. By the theory of the phase transitions, we propose a second-order topological semimetal and insulators with flat hinge bands in chiral-symmetric three-dimensional systems. The three-dimensional second-order topological phases can be obtained from the stacked two-dimensional second-order topological insulators with chiral symmetry. Moreov…
We investigate the ground state and quantum dynamics of an interacting bosonic chain with the nonreciprocal hopping. In sharp contrast to its Hermitian counterpart, the ground state can support Mott insulators in systems with noninteger filling due to the competition between nonreciprocal hopping and the on-site interaction. For the quantum dynamics, conservation laws for non-Hermitian systems manifest a stark difference from their Hermitian counterpart. In particular, for any Hermitian operator that commutes with the Hamiltonian operator, its expectation value is guaranteed to be nonconserved…
The robust quantization of observables in units of universal constants is a hallmark of topological phases. We show that chiral higher order topological insulators (HOTIs), bulk insulators with chiral hinge states, present two unusual features related to quantization. First, we show that circular dichroism is quantized to an integer or zero depending on the orientation of the sample. This probe locates the hinge states, and can be used to distinguish different types of chiral HOTIs. Second, we find that the average of the local Chern marker over a single surface, an observable related to the s…
We propose a non-Hermitian topological system protected by the generalized rotational symmetry which invokes rotation in space and Hermitian conjugation. The system, described by the tight-binding model with nonreciprocal hopping, is found to host two pairs of in-gap edge modes in the gapped topological phase and is characterized by the non-Hermitian (NH) Chern number $C_{NH}=2$. The quantization of the non-Hermitian Chern number is shown to be protected by the generalized rotational symmetry $Ĥ^{+}=ÛĤÛ^{+}$ of the system. Our finding paves the way towards novel non-Hermitian topological syste…
The electronic transport properties in magnetically doped ultra-thin films of topological-insulators is investigated by using Landauer-buttiker formalism. The chiral selective tunneling is addressed in such systems which leads to transport gap and as a consequence current blocking. This quantum blocking of transport occurs when the magnetic states with opposite chirality are aligned energetically. This can be obsereved when an electron tunnels through a barrier or well of magnetic potential induced by the exchange field. It is proved and demonstrated that this chiral transition rule fails when…
We present a scheme to realize the chiral topological excitonic insulator in semiconductor heterostructures which can be experimentally fabricated with a coupled quantum well adjacent to twoferromagnetic insulating films. The different mean-field chiral topological orders, which are due to the change in the directions of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic films, can be characterized by the TKNN numbers in the bulk system as well as by the winding numbers of the gapless states in the edged system. Furthermore, we propose an experimental scheme to detect the emergence of the chiral gapless e…
In this article we consider the chiral Hall effect due to topologically protected kink states formed in topological insulators at boundaries between domains with differing topological invariants. Such systems include the surfaces of three dimensional topological insulators magnetically doped or in proximity with ferromagnets, as well as certain two dimensional topological insulators. We analyze the equilibrium charge current along the domain wall and show that it is equal to the sum of counter-propagating equilibrium currents flowing along external boundaries of the domains. In addition, we al…
Manifestation of chiral excitons on surfaces of topological insulator thin film with magnetically induced energy gap in the surface spectrum in magnetooptical Kerr and Faraday effects is analyzes. Excitonic contribution to a surface optical conductivity tensor is calculated. Chiral excitons contrary to conventional ones resonantly contribute to Hall conductivity due to lack of the symmetry between the states with opposite angular momentum. They can lead to considerable enhancement of Faraday angle and ellipticity of transmitted electromagnetic wave. Chiral excitons cause decrease of Kerr angle…
Recent magnetoconductance measurements performed on magnetic topological insulator candidates have revealed butterfly-shaped hysteresis. This hysteresis has been attributed to the formation of gapless chiral domain-wall bound states during a magnetic field sweep. We treat this phenomenon theoretically, providing a link between microscopic magnetization dynamics and butterfly hysteresis in magnetoconductance. Further, we illustrate how a spatially resolved conductance measurement can probe the most striking feature of the domain-wall bound states: their chirality. This work establishes a regime…
Floquet phases of matter have attracted great attention due to their dynamical and topological nature that are unique to nonequilibrium settings. In this work, we introduce a generic way of taking any integer $q$th-root of the evolution operator $U$ that describes Floquet topological matter. We further apply our $q$th-rooting procedure to obtain $2^n$th- and $3^n$th-root first- and second-order non-Hermitian Floquet topological insulators (FTIs). There, we explicitly demonstrate the presence of multiple edge and corner modes at fractional quasienergies $\pm(0,1,...2^{n})π/2^{n}$ and $\pm(0,1,.…
We introduce the exceptional topological insulator (ETI), a non-Hermitian topological state of matter that features exotic non-Hermitian surface states which can only exist within the three-dimensional topological bulk embedding. We show how this phase can evolve from a Weyl semimetal or Hermitian three-dimensional topological insulator close to criticality when quasiparticles acquire a finite lifetime. The ETI does not require any symmetry to be stabilized. It is characterized by a bulk energy point gap, and exhibits robust surface states that cover the bulk gap as a single sheet of complex e…
Three-dimensional higher-order topological insulators can have topologically protected chiral modes propagating on their hinges. Hinges with two co-propagating chiral modes can serve as a "beam splitter" between hinges with only a single chiral mode. Here we show how such a crystal, with Ohmic contacts attached to its hinges, can be used to realize a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We present concrete calculations for a lattice model of a first-order topological insulator in a magnetic field, which, for a suitable choice of parameters, is an extrinsic second-order topological insulator with the r…
