No Arabic abstract
We investigate the quantization of the complex-valued Berry phases in non-Hermitian quantum systems with certain generalized symmetries. In Hermitian quantum systems, the real-valued Berry phase is known to be quantized in the presence of certain symmetries, and this quantized Berry phase can be regarded as a topological order parameter for gapped quantum systems. In this paper, on the other hand, we establish that the complex Berry phase is also quantized in the systems described by a family of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Let $H(theta)$ be a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian parameterized by $theta$. Suppose that there exists a unitary and Hermitian operator $P$ such that $PH(theta)P = H(-theta)$ or $PH(theta)P = H^dagger(-theta)$. We prove that in the former case, the complex Berry phase $gamma$ is $mathbb{Z}_2$-quantized, while in the latter, only the real part of $gamma$ is $mathbb{Z}_2$-quantized. The operator $P$ can be viewed as a generalized symmetry for $H(theta)$, and in practice, $P$ can be, for example, a spatial inversion. We also argue that this quantized complex Berry phase is capable of classifying non-Hermitian topological phases, and we demonstrate this in some one-dimensional strongly correlated systems.
We introduce the concepts of a symmetry-protected sign problem and symmetry-protected magic to study the complexity of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases of matter. In particular, we say a state has a symmetry-protected sign problem or symmetry-protected magic, if finite-depth quantum circuits composed of symmetric gates are unable to transform the state into a non-negative real wave function or stabilizer state, respectively. We prove that states belonging to certain SPT phases have these properties, as a result of their anomalous symmetry action at a boundary. For example, we find that one-dimensional $mathbb{Z}_2 times mathbb{Z}_2$ SPT states (e.g. cluster state) have a symmetry-protected sign problem, and two-dimensional $mathbb{Z}_2$ SPT states (e.g. Levin-Gu state) have both a symmetry-protected sign problem and symmetry-protected magic. We also comment on the relation of a symmetry-protected sign problem to the computational wire property of one-dimensional SPT states and speculate about the greater implications of our results for measurement-based quantum computing.
Symmetry plays fundamental role in physics and the nature of symmetry changes in non-Hermitian physics. Here the symmetry-protected scattering in non-Hermitian linear systems is investigated by employing the discrete symmetries that classify the random matrices. The even-parity symmetries impose strict constraints on the scattering coefficients: the time-reversal (C and K) symmetries protect the symmetric transmission or reflection; the pseudo-Hermiticity (Q symmetry) or the inversion (P) symmetry protects the symmetric transmission and reflection. For the inversion-combined time-reversal symmetries, the symmetric features on the transmission and reflection interchange. The odd-parity symmetries including the particle-hole symmetry, chiral symmetry, and sublattice symmetry cannot ensure the scattering to be symmetric. These guiding principles are valid for both Hermitian and non-Hermitian linear systems. Our findings provide fundamental insights into symmetry and scattering ranging from condensed matter physics to quantum physics and optics.
Understanding how local potentials affect system eigenmodes is crucial for experimental studies of nontrivial bulk topology. Recent studies have discovered many exotic and highly non-trivial topological states in non-Hermitian systems. As such, it would be interesting to see how non-Hermitian systems respond to local perturbations. In this work, we consider chiral and particle-hole -symmetric non-Hermitian systems on a bipartite lattice, including SSH model and photonic graphene, and find that a disordered local potential could induce bound states evolving from the bulk. When the local potential on a single site becomes infinite, which renders a lattice vacancy, chiral-symmetry-protected zero-energy mode and particle-hole symmetry-protected bound states with purely imaginary eigenvalues emerge near the vacancy. These modes are robust against any symmetry-preserved perturbations. Our work generalizes the symmetry-protected localized states to non-Hermitian systems.
We propose the $mathbb{Z}_Q$ Berry phase as a topological invariant for higher-order symmetry-protected topological (HOSPT) phases for two- and three-dimensional systems. It is topologically stable for electron-electron interactions assuming the gap remains open. As a concrete example, we show that the Berry phase is quantized in $mathbb{Z}_4$ and characterizes the HOSPT phase of the extended Benalcazar-Bernevig-Hughes (BBH) model, which contains the next-nearest neighbor hopping and the intersite Coulomb interactions. In addition, we introduce the $mathbb{Z}_4$ Berry phase for the spin-model-analog of the BBH model, whose topological invariant has not been found so far. Furthermore, we demonstrate the Berry phase is quantized in $mathbb{Z}_4$ for the three-dimensional version of the BBH model. We also confirm the bulk-corner correspondence between the $mathbb{Z}_4$ Berry phase and the corner states in the HOSPT phases.
We classify subsystem symmetry-protected topological (SSPT) phases in $3+1$D protected by planar subsystem symmetries, which are dual to abelian fracton topological orders. We distinguish between weak SSPTs, which can be constructed by stacking $2+1$D SPTs, and strong SSPTs, which cannot. We identify signatures of strong phases, and show by explicit construction that such phases exist. A classification of strong phases is presented for an arbitrary finite abelian group. Finally, we show that fracton orders realizable via $p$-string condensation are dual to weak SSPTs, while strong SSPTs do not admit such a realization.