Simple examples of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with purely real spectra defined in $L^2(R^+)$ having spectral singularities inside the continuous spectrum are given. It is shown that such Hamiltonians may appear by shifting the ndependent variable of a real potential into the complex plane. Also they may be created as SUSY partners of Hermitian Hamiltonians. In the latter case spectral singularities of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian are ordinary points of the continuous spectrum for its Hermitian SUSY partner. Conditions for transformation functions are formulated when a complex potential with complex eigenenergies and spectral singularities has a SUSY partner with a real spectrum without spectral singularities. Finally we shortly discuss why Hamiltonians with spectral singularities are `bad'.
It is shown that the radial part of the Hydrogen Hamiltonian factorizes as the product of two not mutually adjoint first order differential operators plus a complex constant epsilon. The 1-susy approach is used to construct non-hermitian Hamiltonians with hydrogen spectra. Other non-hermitian Hamiltonians are shown to admit an extra `complex energy' at epsilon. New self-adjoint hydrogen-like Hamiltonians are also derived by using a 2-susy transformation with complex conjugate pairs epsilon, (c.c) epsilon.
We propose an extended version of supersymmetric quantum mechanics which can be useful if the Hamiltonian of the physical system under investigation is not Hermitian. The method is based on the use of two, in general different, superpotentials. Bi-coherent states of the Gazeau-Klauder type are constructed and their properties are analyzed. Some examples are also discussed, including an application to the Black-Scholes equation, one of the most important equations in Finance.
Recently (see quant-ph/0503040) an explicit example has been given of a PT-symmetric non-diagonalizable Hamiltonian. In this paper we show that such Hamiltonians appear as supersymmetric (SUSY) partners of Hermitian (hence diagonalizable) Hamiltonians and they can be turned back to diagonalizable forms by appropriate SUSY transformations.
Spectral singularities are predicted to occur in a non-Hermitian extension of the Friedrichs-Fano-Anderson model describing the decay of a discrete state $|a >$ coupled to a continuum of modes. A physical realization of the model, based on electronic or photonic transport in a semi-infinite tight-binding lattice with an imaginary impurity site at the lattice boundary, is proposed. The occurrence of the spectral singularities is shown to correspond either to a diverging reflection probability (for an amplifying impurity) or to a vanishing reflection probability (for an absorbing impurity) from …
We provide a systematic study on the possibility of supersymmetry (SUSY) for one dimensional quantum mechanical systems consisting of a pair of lines $\R$ or intervals [-l, l] each having a point singularity. We consider the most general singularities and walls (boundaries) at $x = \pm l$ admitted quantum mechanically, using a U(2) family of parameters to specify one singularity and similarly a U(1) family of parameters to specify one wall. With these parameter freedoms, we find that for a certain subfamily the line systems acquire an N = 1 SUSY which can be enhanced to N = 4 if the parameters…
Supersymmetric (SUSY) transformation operators corresponding to complex factorization constants are analyzed as operators acting in the Hilbert space of functions square integrable on the positive semiaxis. Obtained results are applied to Hamiltonians possessing spectral singularities which are non-Hermitian SUSY partners of selfadjoint operators. A new regularization procedure for the resolution of the identity operator in terms of continuous biorthonormal set of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian eigenfunctions is proposed. It is also shown that the continuous spectrum eigenfunction has zero bino…
For the first time, we have observed the annihilation of multiple eigenstates of the parent potentials and redistribution of the energy in the deformed potentials in the system with spontaneously breaking of parity-time symmetry while preserving the SUSY of the system. We have observed that the deformation of the potentials is sensitive to initial conditions. This first experimental observation enables the localization of eigenspectra in lateral space (so-called time) and the localization of eigenstates in longitudinal space in the deformed potentials by experimentally applying the SUSY higher…
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…
A non-Hermitian interferometer can realize asymmetric transmission in the presence of imaginary potential and magnetic flux. Here, we propose a non-Hermitian dimer with an unequal hopping rate by an interferometer-like cluster in the framework of tight-binding model. The intriguing features of this design are the wave-vector independence and unidirectionality of scattering, which amplifies wavepacket without distortion and absorbs incoherent wave without reflection. The absorption relates to the system spectral singularities, the dynamical behaviors of the spectral singularities are also inves…
We introduce and study a class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians which have velocity dependent potentials. Since stability can not be advocated directly from the classical potential, we show that the energy spectra are real and bounded from below which proves the stability of the spectra of all members in the class. We find that the introduced class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians do have a corresponding superpartner class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We were able to introduce supercharges which in conjunction with the corresponding super Hamiltonians constitute a closed super algebra. Among the i…
We study complex potentials and related non-diagonalizable Hamiltonians with special emphasis on formal definitions of associated functions and Jordan cells. The nonlinear SUSY for complex potentials is considered and the theorems characterizing its structure are presented. We present the class of potentials invariant under SUSY transformations for non-diagonalizable Hamiltonians and formulate several results concerning the properties of associated functions . We comment on the applicability of these results for softly non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonians. The role of SUSY (Darboux) transfo…
Non-Hermitian singularities are ubiquitous in non-conservative open systems. These singularities are often points of measure zero in the eigenspectrum of the system which make them difficult to access without careful engineering. Despite that, they can remotely induce observable effects when some of the system's parameters are varied along closed trajectories in the parameter space. To date, a general formalism for describing this process beyond simple cases is still lacking. Here, we bridge this gap and develop a general approach for treating this problem by utilizing the power of permutation…
A quantum inspired open optical system is mathematically implemented with an analogous three state non-Hermitian Hamiltonian exhibiting two special avoided-resonance-crossings; where interesting characteristics alongside a third-order exceptional point is explored towards robust ultra-selective state switching.
Spectral singularities that spoil the completeness of Bloch-Floquet states may occur in non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with complex periodic potentials. Here an equivalence is established between spectral singularities in complex crystals and secularities that arise in Bragg diffraction patterns. Signatures of spectral singularities in a scattering process with wave packets are elucidated for a PT-symmetric complex crystal.
We examine the completeness of bi-orthogonal sets of eigenfunctions for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians possessing a spectral singularity. The correct resolutions of identity are constructed for delta like and smooth potentials. Their form and the contribution of a spectral singularity depend on the class of functions employed for physical states. With this specification there is no obstruction to completeness originating from a spectral singularity.
Light propagation in distributed feedback optical structures with gain/loss regions is shown to provide an accessible laboratory tool to visualize in optics the spectral properties of the one-dimensional Dirac equation with non-Hermitian interactions. Spectral singularities and PT symmetry breaking of the Dirac Hamiltonian are shown to correspond to simple observable physical quantities and related to well-known physical phenomena like resonance narrowing and laser oscillation.
We study SUSY-intertwining for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with special emphasis to the two-dimensional generalized Morse potential, which does not allow for separation of variables. The complexified methods of SUSY-separation of variables and two-dimensional shape invariance are used to construct particular solutions - both for complex conjugated energy pairs and for non-paired complex energies.
We demonstrate general classifications of Riemann surface topology generated by multiple arbitrary-order exceptional points of quasi-stationary states. Our studies reveal all possible product permutations of holonomy matrices that describe a stroboscopic encircling of 2nd order exceptional points. The permutations turn out to be categorized into a finite number of classes according to the topological structures of the Riemann surfaces. We further show that the permutation classes can be derived from combinations of cyclic building blocks associated with higher-order exceptional points. Our res…
From Spectral Singularities to Multipartite Entanglement Scaling at Higher-Order Exceptional Points
Peking University（北京大学）；Hefei National Laboratory（合肥国家实验室）；Beihang University（北京航空航天大学）；Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University（山西大学极端光学协同创新中心）
In a recent paper entitled "Winding around non-Hermitian singularities" by Zhong et al., published in Nat. Commun. 9, 4808 (2018), a formalism is proposed for calculating the permutations of eigenstates that arise upon encircling (multiple) exceptional points (EPs) in the complex parameter plane of an analytic non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. The authors suggest that upon encircling EPs one should track the eigenvalue branch cuts that are traversed, and multiply the associated permutation matrices accordingly. In this comment we point out a serious shortcoming of this approach, illustrated by an exp…
Motivated by the duality of normalizable states and the presence of the quasi-parity quantum number q=+/-1 in PT symmetric (non-Hermitian) quantum mechanical potential models, the relation of PT symmetry and supersymmetry (SUSY) is studied. As an illustrative example the PT invariant version of the Scarf II potential is presented, and it is shown that the "bosonic" Hamiltonian has two different "fermionic" SUSY partner Hamiltonians (potentials) generated from the ground-state solutions with q=1 and q=-1. It is shown that the "fermionic" potentials cease to be PT invariant when the PT symmetry …
We continue our investigation of the nonlinear SUSY for complex potentials started in the Part I (math-ph/0610024) and prove the theorems characterizing its structure in the case of non-diagonalizable Hamiltonians. This part provides the mathematical basis of previous studies. The classes of potentials invariant under SUSY transformations for non-diagonalizable Hamiltonians are specified and the asymptotics of formal eigenfunctions and associated functions are derived. Several results on the normalizability of associated functions at infinities are rigorously proved. Finally the Index Theorem …
The spectral singularity have been extensively studied over the last one and half decade for different non-Hermitian potentials in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics. The nature of spectral singularities have not been studied for the case of quaternionic potential. In the present work we perform an analytical study for the scattering from a quaternionic point interaction represented by delta function. New features of spectral singularities are observed which are different than the case of complex (non-quaternionic) point interaction. Most notable difference is the occurrence of spectral singulari…
The harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian, when augmented by a non-Hermitian $\cal{PT}$-symmetric part, can be transformed into a Hermitian Hamiltonian. This is achieved by introducing a metric which, in general, renders other observables such as the usual momentum or position as non-Hermitian operators. The metric depends on one real parameter, the full range of which is investigated. The explicit functional dependence of the metric and each associated Hamiltonian is given. A specific choice of this parameter determines a specific combination of position and momentum as being an observable; this ca…
A comment has been recently posted on the arXiv (arXiv:1902.07504) that discuss our recent work on encircling multiple exceptional points in Nat. Commun. 9, 4808 (2018). In that comment, the authors claim that our approach is prone to errors. In discussing their findings, they also indicate that a method presented by their team in Phys. Rev. A 98, 023818 (2018) (presumed to give correct results in all situations) was published prior to our work. First, we would like to note that both their work and ours were posted on the arXiv within a week from each other. Second and more importantly, as we …
Non-Hermitian systems can produce branch singularities known as exceptional points (EPs). Different from singularities in Hermitian systems, the topological properties of an EP can involve either the winding of eigenvalues that produces a discriminant number (DN) or the eigenvector holonomy that generates a Berry phase. The multiplicity of topological invariants also makes non-Hermitian topology richer than its Hermitian counterpart. Here, we study a parabola-shaped trajectory formed by EPs with both theory and acoustic experiments. By obtaining both the DNs and Berry phases through the measur…
Searching for non-Hermitian (parity-time)$\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonians \cite{bender} with real spectra has been acquiring much interest for fourteen years. In this article, we have introduced a $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonian model which is given as $\hat{\mathcal{H}}=ω(\hat{b}^\dagger\hat{b}+\frac{1}{2})+ α(\hat{b}^{2}-(\hat{b}^\dagger)^{2})$ where $ω$ and $α$ are real constants, $\hat{b}$ and $\hat{b^\dagger}$ are first order differential operators. Moreover, Pseudo-Hermiticity that is a generalization of $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry has been attracting a growing intere…
We complexify a 1-d potential which exhibits bound, reflecting and free states to study various properties of a non-Hermitian system. This potential turns out a PT-symmetric non-Hermitian potential when one of the parameters becomes imaginary. For one PT-symmetric case we have entire real bound state spectrum. Explicit scattering states are constructed to show reciprocity at certain discrete values of energy even though the potential is not parity symmetric. Coexistence of deep energy minima of transmissivity with the multiple spectral singularities (MSS) is observed. We further show that this…
Exploring Spectral Singularities in Dirac Semimetals: The Role of Non-Hermitian Physics and Dichroism
National Intelligence Academy, Institute of Engineering and Science（国家情报学院，工程与科学学院）；Department of Physics, Istanbul University（伊斯坦布尔大学物理系）；Department of Physics, Gebze Technical University（盖布泽理工大学物理系）
Exceptional points are complex-valued spectral singularities that lead to a host of intriguing features such as loss-induced transparency - a counterintuitive process in which an increase in the system's overall loss can lead to enhanced transmission. In general, the associated enhancements scale with the order of the exceptional points. Consequently, it is of great interest to devise new strategies to implement realistic devices capable of exhibiting high-order exceptional points. Here, we show that high-order N-photon exceptional points can be generated by exciting non-hermitian waveguide ar…
Recent studies of transport phenomena with complex potentials are explained by generic square root singularities of spectrum and eigenfunctions of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Using a two channel problem we demonstrate that such singularities produce a significant effect upon the pole behaviour of the scattering matrix, and more significantly upon the associated residues. This mechanism explains why by proper choice of the system parameters the resonance cross section is increased drastically in one channel and suppressed in the other channel.
We describe the formation of bulk and edge arcs in the dispersion relation of two-dimensional coupled-resonator arrays that are topologically trivial in the hermitian limit. Each resonator provides two asymmetrically coupled internal modes, as realized in noncircular open geometries, which enables the system to exhibit non-hermitian physics. Neighboring resonators are coupled chirally to induce non-hermitian symmetries. The bulk dispersion displays Fermi arcs connecting spectral singularities known as exceptional points, and can be tuned to display purely real and imaginary branches. At an int…
We show that the formalism of supersymmetry (SUSY), when applied to parity-time (PT) symmetric optical potentials, can give rise to novel refractive index landscapes with altogether non-trivial properties. In particular, we find that the presence of gain and loss allows for arbitrarily removing bound states from the spectrum of a structure. This is in stark contrast to the Hermitian case, where the SUSY formalism can only address the fundamental mode of a potential. Subsequently we investigate isospectral families of complex potentials that exhibit entirely real spectra, despite the fact that …
In the framework of SUSYQM extended to deal with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, we analyze three sets of complex potentials with real spectra, recently derived by a potential algebraic approach based upon the complex Lie algebra sl(2, C). This extends to the complex domain the well-known relationship between SUSYQM and potential algebras for Hermitian Hamiltonians, resulting from their common link with the factorization method and Darboux transformations. In the same framework, we also generate for the first time a pair of elliptic partner potentials of Weierstrass $\wp$ type, one of them being r…
Spectral singularities are spectral points that spoil the completeness of the eigenfunctions of certain non-Hermitian Hamiltonian operators. We identify spectral singularities of complex scattering potentials with the real energies at which the reflection and transmission coefficients tend to infinity, i.e., they correspond to resonances having a zero width. We show that a wave guide modeled using such a potential operates like a resonator at the frequencies of spectral singularities. As a concrete example, we explore the spectral singularities of an imaginary PT-symmetric barrier potential an…
Resolutions of identity for certain non-Hermitian Hamiltonians constructed from biorthogonal sets of their eigen- and associated functions are given for the spectral problem defined on entire axis. Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians under consideration possess the continuous spectrum and the following peculiarities are investigated: (1) the case when there is an exceptional point of arbitrary multiplicity situated on a boundary of continuous spectrum; (2) the case when there is an exceptional point situated inside of continuous spectrum. The reductions of the derived resolutions of identity under narr…
Scattering coefficients can diverge at spectral singularities. In such situation, the stationary solution becomes a laser solution with outgoing waves only. We explore a parity-time (PT)-symmetric non-Hermitian two-arm Aharonov-Bohm interferometer consisting of three coupled resonators enclosing synthetic magnetic flux. The synthetic magnetic flux does not break the PT symmetry, which protects the symmetric transmission. The features and conditions of symmetric, asymmetric, and unidirectional lasing at spectral singularities are discussed. We elucidate that lasing affected by the interference …
In the past decade, the concept of parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetry, originally introduced in non-Hermitian extensions of quantum mechanical theories, has come into thinking of photonics, providing a fertile ground for studying, observing, and utilizing some of the peculiar aspects of $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry in optics. Together with related concepts of non-Hermitian physics of open quantum systems, such as non-Hermitian degeneracies (exceptional points) and spectral singularities, $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry represents one among the most fruitful ideas introduced in optics in the past few yea…
We study the Nonlinear (Polynomial, N-fold,...) Supersymmetry algebra in one-dimensional QM. Its structure is determined by the type of conjugation operation (Hermitian conjugation or transposition) and described with the help of the Super-Hamiltonian projection on the zero-mode subspace of a supercharge. We show that the SUSY algebra with transposition symmetry is always polynomial in the Hamiltonian if supercharges represent differential operators of finite order. The appearance of the extended SUSY with several (complex or real) supercharges is analyzed in details and it is established that…
Exceptional points are interesting physical phenomena in non-Hermitian physics at which the eigenvalues are degenerate and the eigenvectors coalesce. In this paper, we find that the universal feature of arbitrary non-Hermitian two level systems with singularities is basis defectiveness rather than energy degeneracy or state coalescence. This leads to the discovery of general exceptional points (GEPs). For GEPs, more subtle structures (e.g., Bloch peach), additional classification, and' 'hidden" quantum phase transitions are explored. By using the topologically protected subspace from two edge …
Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are relevant to describe the features of a broad class of physical phenomena, ranging from photonics and atomic and molecular systems to nuclear physics and mesoscopic electronic systems. An important question relies on the understanding of the influence of curved background on the static and dynamical properties of non-Hermitian systems. In this work, we study the interplay of geometry and non-Hermitian dynamics by unveiling the existence of curvature-dependent non-Hermitian phase transitions. We investigate a prototypical model of Dirac fermions on a sphere with an…
Using techniques of supersymmetric quantum mechanics, scattering properties of Hermitian Hamiltonians, which are related to non-Hermitian ones by similarity transformations, are studied. We have found that the scattering matrix of the Hermitian Hamiltonian coincides with the phase factor of the non-unitary scattering matrix of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. The possible presence of a spectral singularity in a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian translates into a pronounced resonance in the scattering cross section of its Hermitian counterpart. This opens a way for detecting spectral singularities in sca…
For complex one-dimensional potentials, we propose the asymmetry of both reflectivity and transmitivity under time-reversal: $R(-k)\ne R(k)$ and $T(-k) \ne T(k)$, unless the potentials are real or PT-symmetric. For complex PT-symmetric scattering potentials, we propose that $R_{left}(-k)=R_{right}(k)$ and $T(-k)=T(k)$. So far, the spectral singularities (SS) of a one-dimensional non-Hermitian scattering potential are witnessed/conjectured to be at most one. We present a new non-Hermitian parametrization of Scarf II potential to reveal its four new features. Firstly, it displays the just acclai…
We present a generalization of the perturbative construction of the metric operator for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with more than one perturbation parameter. We use this method to study the non-Hermitian scattering Hamiltonian: H=p^2/2m+ζ_-δ(x+a)+ζ_+δ(x-a), where ζ_\pm and a are respectively complex and real parameters and δ(x) is the Dirac delta function. For regions in the space of coupling constants ζ_\pm where H is quasi-Hermitian and there are no complex bound states or spectral singularities, we construct a (positive-definite) metric operator ηand the corresponding equivalent Hermitian H…
The $\cal PT$-symmetric complexified Scarf II potential $V(x)= - V_1 \sech^{2}x + {\rm i} V_2 \sech x \tanh x$, $V_1>0$ , $V_{2}\neq 0$ is revisited to study the interplay among its coupling parameters. The existence of an isolated real and positive energy level that has been recently identified as a spectral singularity or zero-width resonance is here demonstrated through the behaviour of the corresponding wavefunctions and some property of the associated pseudo-norms is pointed out. We also construct four different rationally-extended supersymmetric partners to $V(x)$, which are $\cal PT$-sy…
Quantum entanglement is one essential element to characterize many-body quantum systems. However, the entanglement measures are mostly discussed in Hermitian systems. Here, we propose a natural extension of entanglement and Rényi entropies to non-Hermitian quantum systems. There have been other proposals for the computation of these quantities, which are distinct from what is proposed in the current paper. We demonstrate the proposed entanglement quantities which are referred to as generic entanglement and Rényi entropies. These quantities capture the desired entanglement properties in non-Her…
Exceptional points (EPs) are peculiar band singularities and play a vital role in a rich array of unusual optical phenomena and non-Hermitian band theory. In this paper, we provide a topological classification of isolated EPs based on homotopy theory. In particular, the classification indicates that an $n$-th order EP in two dimensions is fully characterized by the braid group B$_n$, with its eigenenergies tied up into a geometric knot along a closed path enclosing the EP. The quantized discriminant invariant of the EP is the writhe of the knot. The knot crossing number gives the number of bul…
