Exceptional points are singularities of eigenvalues and eigenvectors for complex values of, say, an interaction parameter. They occur universally and are square root branch point singularities of the eigenvalues in the vicinity of level repulsions. The intricate connection between the distribution of exceptional points and particular fluctuation properties of level spacing is discussed. The distribution of the exceptional points of the problem $H_0+λH_1$ is given for the situation of hard chaos. Theoretical predictions of local properties of exceptional points have recently been confirmed experimentally. This relates to the specific topological structure of an exceptional point as well as to the chiral properties of the wave functions associated with exceptional points.
Exceptional points (EPs) with a global collapse of pairs of eigenfunctions are shown to arise in two locally-coupled and spatially-extended optical structures with balanced gain and loss. Global collapse at the EP deeply changes light propagation, which becomes very sensitive to small changes of initial conditions or system parameters, similarly to what happens in models of classical or quantum catastrophes. The implications of global collapse for light behavior are illustrated by considering discrete beam diffraction and Bloch oscillation catastrophe in coupled waveguide lattices.
Quantum mechanics forces us to reconsider certain aspects of classical causality. The 'central mystery' of quantum mechanics manifests in different ways, depending on the interpretation. This mystery can be formulated as the possibility of selecting part of the initial conditions of the Universe 'retroactively'. This talk aims to show that there is a global, timeless, 'bird's view' of the spacetime, which makes this mystery more reasonable. We will review some well-known quantum effects from the perspective of global consistency.
The dynamics of an isolated quantum system is coherent and unitary. Weak coupling to the environment leads to decoherence, which is traditionally modeled with a Lindblad equation for the system's density matrix. Starting from a pure state, such a system approaches a steady state (mixed or otherwise) in an underdamped or overdamped manner. This transition occurs at an eigenvalue degeneracy of a Lindblad superoperator, called an exceptional point (EP), where corresponding eigenvectors coalesce. Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in creating exceptional points in a truly quantum doma…
The spectral branching behavior of the 2x2 operator matrix of the magneto-hydrodynamic alpha^2-dynamo is analyzed numerically. Some qualitative aspects of level crossings are briefly discussed with the help of a simple toy model which is based on a Z_2-graded-pseudo-Hermitian 2x2 matrix. The considered issues comprise: the underlying SU(1,1) symmetry and the Krein space structure of the system, exceptional points of branching type and diabolic points, as well as the algebraic and geometric multiplicity of corresponding degenerate eigenvalues.
Non-orientable Exceptional Points in Twisted Boundary Systems
Institute for Basic Science (IBS)(基础科学研究所);Korea University of Science and Technology (UST)(韩国科学技术院);Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)(韩国科学技术高等研究院);Hanyang University(汉阳大学);Pukyong National University(釜庆国立大学)
A non-Hermitian complex symmetric 2x2 matrix toy model is used to study projective Hilbert space structures in the vicinity of exceptional points (EPs). The bi-orthogonal eigenvectors of a diagonalizable matrix are Puiseux-expanded in terms of the root vectors at the EP. It is shown that the apparent contradiction between the two incompatible normalization conditions with finite and singular behavior in the EP-limit can be resolved by projectively extending the original Hilbert space. The complementary normalization conditions correspond then to two different affine charts of this enlarged pro…
Degeneracy (exceptional) points embedded in energy band are distinct by their topological features. We report different hybrid two-state coalescences (EP2s) formed through merging two EP2s with opposite chiralities that created from the type III Dirac points emerging from a flat band. The band touching hybrid EP2, which is isolated, is induced by the destructive interference at the proper match between non-Hermiticity and synthetic magnetic flux. The degeneracy points and different types of exceptional points are distinguishable by their topological features of global geometric phase associate…
A macroscopic effect can be induced by a local non-Hermitian term in a many-body system, when it manifests simultaneously level coalescence of a full real degeneracy spectrum, leading to exceptional spectrum. In this paper, we propose a family of systems that support such an intriguing property. It is generally consisted of two arbitrary identical Hermitian sub-lattices in association with unidirectional couplings between them. We show exactly that all single-particle eigenstates coalesce in pairs even only single unidirectional coupling appears. It means that all possible initial states obey …
Exceptional points (EPs), at which both eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce, are ubiquitous and unique features of non-Hermitian systems. Second-order EPs are by far the most studied due to their abundance, requiring only the tuning of two real parameters, which is less than the three parameters needed to generically find ordinary Hermitian eigenvalue degeneracies. Higher-order EPs generically require more fine-tuning, and are thus assumed to play a much less prominent role. Here, however, we illuminate how physically relevant symmetries make higher-order EPs dramatically more abundant and c…
We use group theoretic ideas and coset space methods to deal with problems in polarization optics of a global nature. These include the possibility of a globally smooth phase convention for electric fields for all points on the Poincaré sphere, and a similar possibility of real or complex bases of transverse electric vectors for all possible propagation directions. It is shown that these methods help in understanding some known results in an effective manner, and in answering new questions as well. We find that apart from the groups $SU(2)$ and $SO(3)$ which occur naturally in these problems, …
Periodically driven non-Hermitian systems can exhibit rich topological band structure and non-Hermitian skin effect, without analogs in their static or Hermitian counterparts. In this work we investigate the exceptional band-touching points in the Floquet quasi-energy bands, the topological characterization of such exceptions points and the Floquet non-Hermitian skin effect (FNHSE). Specifically, we exploit the simplicity of periodically quenched two-band systems in one dimension or two dimensions to analytically obtain the Floquet effective Hamiltonian as well as locations of the many excepti…
Non-Hermitian descriptions of quantum matter have seen impressive progress recently, with major advances in understanding central aspects such as their topological properties or the physics of exceptional points, the non-Hermitian counterpart of critical points. Here, we use single-photon interferometry to reconstruct the non-Hermitian Kibble-Zurek mechanism and its distinct scaling behavior for exceptional points, by simulating the defect production upon performing slow parameter ramps. Importantly, we are able to realise also higher-order exceptional points, providing experimental access to …
Observable signatures of exceptional points from left-right eigenstate distinction
CNR-INO(意大利国家研究委员会光学研究所);Università di Trento(特伦托大学);INFN-TIFPA(意大利国家核物理研究所基础物理与应用研究所);Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram(印度科学教育与研究机构特里凡得琅分校);Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad(印度理工学院(ISMT)丹巴德校区)