No Arabic abstract
We employ electric circuit networks to study topological states of matter in non-Hermitian systems enriched by parity-time symmetry $mathcal{PT}$ and chiral symmetry anti-$mathcal{PT}$ ($mathcal{APT}$). The topological structure manifests itself in the complex admittance bands which yields excellent measurability and signal to noise ratio. We analyze the impact of $mathcal{PT}$ symmetric gain and loss on localized edge and defect states in a non-Hermitian Su--Schrieffer--Heeger (SSH) circuit. We realize all three symmetry phases of the system, including the $mathcal{APT}$ symmetric regime that occurs at large gain and loss. We measure the admittance spectrum and eigenstates for arbitrary boundary conditions, which allows us to resolve not only topological edge states, but also a novel $mathcal{PT}$ symmetric $mathbb{Z}_2$ invariant of the bulk. We discover the distinct properties of topological edge states and defect states in the phase diagram. In the regime that is not $mathcal{PT}$ symmetric, the topological defect state disappears and only reemerges when $mathcal{APT}$ symmetry is reached, while the topological edge states always prevail and only experience a shift in eigenvalue. Our findings unveil a future route for topological defect engineering and tuning in non-Hermitian systems of arbitrary dimension.
We investigate, using a microwave platform consisting of a non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger array of coupled dielectric resonators, the interplay of a lossy nonlinearity and CT-symmetry in the formation of defect modes. The measurements agree with the theory which predicts that, up to moderate pumping, the defect mode is an eigenstate of the CT-symmetric operator and retains its frequency at the center of the gap. At higher pumping values, the system undergoes a self-induced explicit CT-symmetry violation which removes the spectral topological protection and alters the shape of the defect mode.
Advances in topological photonics and non-Hermitian optics have drastically changed our perception on how interdisciplinary concepts may empower unprecedented applications. Bridging the two areas could uncover the reciprocity between topology and non-Hermiticity in complex systems. So far, such endeavors have focused mainly on linear-optics regime. Here, we establish a nonlinear non-Hermitian topological platform for control of parity-time (PT) symmetry and topological edge states. Experimentally, we demonstrate that optical nonlinearity effectively modulates the gain and loss of a topological interface waveguide in a non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattice, leading to switching between PT and non-PT-symmetric regimes accompanied by destruction and restoration of topological zero modes. Theoretically, we examine the fundamental issue of the interplay between two antagonistic effects: the sensitivity close to exceptional points and the robustness of non-Hermitian topological modes. Realizing single-channel control of global PT-symmetry via local nonlinearity may herald new possibilities for light manipulation and unconventional device applications.
We show that Maxwells demon-like nonreciprocity can be supported in a class of non-Hermitian gyrotropic metasurfaces in the linear regime. The proposed metasurface functions as a transmission-only Maxwells demon operating at a pair of photon energies. Based on multiple scattering theory, we construct a dual-dipole model to explain the underlying mechanism that leads to the antisymmetric nonreciprocal transmission. The results may inspire new designs of compact nonreciprocal devices for photonics.
According to the topological band theory of a Hermitian system, the different electronic phases are classified in terms of topological invariants, wherein the transition between the two phases characterized by a different topological invariant is the primary signature of a topological phase transition. Recently, it has been argued that the delocalization-localization transition in a quasicrystal, described by the non-Hermitian $mathcal{PT}$-symmetric extension of the Aubry-Andr{e}-Harper (AAH) Hamiltonian can also be identified as a topological phase transition. Interestingly, the $mathcal{PT}$-symmetry also breaks down at the same critical point. However, in this article, we have shown that the delocalization-localization transition and the $mathcal{PT}$-symmetry breaking are not connected to a topological phase transition. To demonstrate this, we have studied the non-Hermitian $mathcal{PT}$-symmetric AAH Hamiltonian in the presence of Rashba Spin-Orbit (RSO) coupling. We have obtained an analytical expression of the topological transition point and compared it with the numerically obtained critical points. We have found that, except in some special cases, the critical point and the topological transition point are not the same. In fact, the delocalization-localization transition takes place earlier than the topological transition whenever they do not coincide.
Robust boundary states epitomize how deep physics can give rise to concrete experimental signatures with technological promise. Of late, much attention has focused on two distinct mechanisms for boundary robustness - topological protection, as well as the non-Hermitian skin effect. In this work, we report the first experimental realizations of hybrid higher-order skin-topological effect, in which the skin effect selectively acts only on the topological boundary modes, not the bulk modes. Our experiments, which are performed on specially designed non-reciprocal 2D and 3D topolectrical circuit lattices, showcases how non-reciprocal pumping and topological localization dynamically interplays to form various novel states like 2D skin-topological, 3D skin-topological-topological hybrid states, as well as 2D and 3D higher-order non-Hermitian skin states. Realized through our highly versatile and scalable circuit platform, theses states have no Hermitian nor lower-dimensional analog, and pave the way for new applications in topological switching and sensing through the simultaneous non-trivial interplay of skin and topological boundary localizations.