Topological states at exceptional points

We consider an N-level non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with an exceptional point of order N. We define adiabatic equivalence in such systems and explore topological phase. We show that the topological exceptional states appear at the interface of topologically distinct systems. We discuss that topological states appear even in closed systems. We explore dynamical robustness of exceptional edge states.     

PT symmetric Floquet topological phase in SSH model

We consider periodically modulated Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model with gain and loss. This model, which can be realized with current technology in photonics using waveguides, allows us to study Floquet topological insulating phase. By using Floquet theory, we find the quasi-energy spectrum of this one dimensional PT symmetric topological insulator. We show that stable Floquet topological phase exists in our model provided that oscillation frequency is large and the non-Hermitian degree is below than a critical value.     

Classification of Topological Insulators with Time-Reversal and Inversion Symmetry

In this paper, we find that topological insulators with time-reversal symmetryand inversion symmetry featuring two-dimensional quantum spin Hall (QSH) state can be divided into 16 classes, which are characterized by four Z₂topological variables ζ_k=0,1 at four points with high symmetry in the Brillouin zone. We obtain the corresponding edge states for each one of these sixteen classes of QSHs. In addition, it is predicted that massless fermionic excitations appear at the quantum phase transition between different QSH states. In the end, we also briefly discuss the three-dimensional case.     

Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with unitary and antiunitary symmetries

We analyse several non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with antiunitary symmetry from the point of view of their point-group symmetry. It enables us to predict the degeneracy of the energy levels and to reduce the dimension of the matrices necessary for the diagonalization of the Hamiltonian in a given basis set. We can also classify the solutions according to the irreducible representations of the point group and thus analyse their properties separately. One of the main results of this paper is that some PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with point-group symmetry C_2v$C_{2v}$ exhibit complex eigenvalues for all values of a potential parameter. In such cases the PT phase transition takes place at the trivial Hermitian limit which suggests that the phenomenon is not robust. Point-group symmetry enables us to explain such anomalous behaviour and to choose a suitable antiunitary operator for the PT symmetry.     

On the Dirac equation with PT-symmetric potentials in the presence of position-dependent mass

The relativistic problem of fermions subject to a PT-symmetric potential in the presence of position-dependent mass is reinvestigated. The influence of the PT-symmetric potential in the continuity equation and in the orthonormalization condition are analyzed. In addition, a misconception diffused in the literature on the interaction of neutral fermions is clarified.     

Three PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with completely different spectra

We discuss three Hamiltonians, each with a central-field part H₀$H_0$ and a PT-symmetric perturbation igz$igz$. When H₀$H_0$ is the isotropic Harmonic oscillator the spectrum is real for all g$g$ because H$H$ is isospectral to H₀+g²/2$H_0+g^2/2$. When H₀$H_0$ is the Hydrogen atom then infinitely many eigenvalues are complex for all g$g$. If the potential in H₀$H_0$ is linear in the radial variable r$r$ then the spectrum of H$H$ exhibits real eigenvalues for 0<g<g_c$0<g<g_c$ and a PT phase transition at g_c$g_c$.     

凝聚态材料中的拓扑相与拓扑相变——2016年诺贝尔物理学奖解读

凝聚态物理中拓扑相变和拓扑物态的发现,获得了2016年度诺贝尔物理学奖。文章系统介绍了凝聚态物理中拓扑性的起源,并简要介绍了目前凝聚态物理中发现的主要几类拓扑态：拓扑绝缘体、量子反常霍尔效应、拓扑晶体绝缘体和拓扑半金属。     

Topological states in quasicrystals

With the rapid development of topological states in crystals, the study of topological states has been extended to quasicrystals in recent years. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of topological states in quasicrystals, particularly focusing on one-dimensional (1D) and 2D systems. We first give a brief introduction to quasicrystalline structures. Then, we discuss topological phases in 1D quasicrystals where the topological nature is attributed to the synthetic dimensions associated with the quasiperiodic order of quasicrystals. We further present the generalization of various types of crystalline topological states to 2D quasicrystals, where real-space expressions of corresponding topological invariants are introduced due to the lack of translational symmetry in quasicrystals. Finally, since quasicrystals possess forbidden symmetries in crystals such as five-fold and eight-fold rotation, we provide an overview of unique quasicrystalline symmetry-protected topological states without crystalline counterpart.     

拓扑绝缘体及其研究进展

拓扑绝缘体是当前凝聚态物理领域中的一个热点问题.这类材料的典型特征是体内元激发存在能隙,但在边界上具有受拓扑保护的无能隙边缘激发.从广义上讲,拓扑绝缘体可以分两大类:一类是破坏时间反演的量子霍尔体系,另一类是新近发现的时间反演不变的拓扑绝缘体.这些新材料的奇特物理性质和潜在的应用前景,使其倍受人们关注.文章对这种新奇物态的物理性质和研究进展做了简要的介绍.     

Topological insulator: Spintronics and quantum computations

Topological insulators are emergent states of quantum matter that are gapped in the bulk with timereversal symmetry-preserved gapless edge/surface states, adiabatically distinct from conventional materials. By proximity to various magnets and superconductors, topological insulators show novel physics at the interfaces, which give rise to two new areas named topological spintronics and topological quantum computation. Effects in the former such as the spin torques, spin-charge conversion, topological antiferromagnetic spintronics, and skyrmions realized in topological systems will be addressed. In the latter, a superconducting pairing gap leads to a state that supports Majorana fermions states, which may provide a new path for realizing topological quantum computation. Various signatures of Majorana zero modes/edge mode in topological superconductors will be discussed. The review ends by outlooks and potential applications of topological insulators. Topological superconductors that are fabricated using topological insulators with superconductors have a full pairing gap in the bulk and gapless surface states consisting of Majorana fermions. The theory of topological superconductors is reviewed, in close analogy to the theory of topological insulators.     

Topological hierarchy matters — topological matters with superlattices of defects

Topological insulators/superconductors are new states of quantum matter with metallic edge/surface states.In this paper,we review the defects effect in these topological states and study new types of topological matters — topological hierarchy matters.We find that both topological defects(quantized vortices) and non topological defects(vacancies) can induce topological mid-gap states in the topological hierarchy matters after considering the superlattice of defects.These topological mid-gap states have nontrivial topological properties,including the nonzero Chern number and the gapless edge states.Effective tight-binding models are obtained to describe the topological mid-gap states in the topological hierarchy matters.     

Symmetric quadratic Hamiltonians with pseudo-Hermitian matrix representation

We prove that any symmetric Hamiltonian that is a quadratic function of the coordinates and momenta has a pseudo-Hermitian adjoint or regular matrix representation. The eigenvalues of the latter matrix are the natural frequencies of the Hamiltonian operator. When all the eigenvalues of the matrix are real, then the spectrum of the symmetric Hamiltonian is real and the operator is Hermitian. As illustrative examples we choose the quadratic Hamiltonians that model a pair of coupled resonators with balanced gain and loss, the electromagnetic self-force on an oscillating charged particle and an active LRC circuit.     

Topological transport in Dirac electronic systems:A concise review

Various novel physical properties have emerged in Dirac electronic systems, especially the topological characters protected by symmetry. Current studies on these systems have been greatly promoted by the intuitive concepts of Berry phase and Berry curvature, which provide precise definitions of the topological phases. In this topical review, transport properties of topological insulator(Bi2Se3), topological Dirac semimetal(Cd3As2), and topological insulator-graphene heterojunction are presented and discussed. Perspectives about transport properties of two-dimensional topological nontrivial systems,including topological edge transport, topological valley transport, and topological Weyl semimetals, are provided.     

Symmetry and Topology of the Topological Counterparts in Non-Hermitian Systems

The symmetries and topological properties of the topological counterparts in 1D non-Hermitian systems are investigated. It is found that, after applying the non-unitary similarity transformation, the non-unitary topological counterpart in real space exhibits completely different global symmetries except for the sublattice symmetry and reveals many brand new local symmetries. Due to the abundant symmetries of non-unitary topological counterparts, it is also found that the unique overlapping projections about the unit sphere vector representing the eigenstates appear in the nontrivial regions, and the triviality of the point-gap topology of non-unitary topological counterpart completely eliminate the intrinsic skin effect in non-Hermitian systems. It is also shown that the unitary topological counterpart never arises any changes for the original symmetries and topological structures even in real space. Unitary topological counterparts are further summarized about the two-band Bloch Hamiltonian, which can expand the definition of non-Bloch winding number. Furthermore, it is demonstrated theoretically that the Bloch Hamiltonian would still hold time-reversal symmetry, abnormal particle-hole symmetry, and sublattice symmetry even suffering from the non-unitary transformation. This work provides a new way to understand the roles of symmetry and topology in non-Hermitian systems from the perspective of topological counterparts.     

Topological and dynamical phase transitions in the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model with quasiperiodic and long-range hoppings

Disorders and long-range hoppings can induce exotic phenomena in condensed matter and artificial systems. We study the topological and dynamical properties of the quasiperiodic Su–Schrier–Heeger model with long-range hoppings. It is found that the interplay of quasiperiodic disorder and long-range hopping can induce topological Anderson insulator phases with non-zero winding numbers $\omega =1,2,$ and the phase boundaries can be consistently revealed by the divergence of zero-energy mode localization length. We also investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics by ramping the long-range hopping along two different paths. The critical exponents extracted from the dynamical behavior agree with the Kibble–Zurek mechanic prediction for the path with $W=0.90.$ In particular, the dynamical exponent of the path crossing the multicritical point is numerical obtained as $1/6{\rm{\sim }}0.167,$ which agrees with the unconventional finding in the previously studied XY spin model. Besides, we discuss the anomalous and non-universal scaling of the defect density dynamics of topological edge states in this disordered system under open boundary condictions.     

Wavepacket Dynamics in a Non-Hermitian PT Symmetric Tight-Binding Chain

We examine the time development of a wavepacket in a Non-Hermitian PT symmetric tight-binding chain based on the Bethe ansatz solutions. The complete orthogonal sets in both unbroken and broken PT symmetry regions are established with respect to an inner product in terms of CPT conjugation. The dynamical development of a stationary wavepacket is exhibited, showing the impacts from additional imaginary potentials within unbroken and broken symmetric regimes. Our result indicates that there are distinct dynamic characteristics for both two regions. The unbroken symmetric imaginary end potentials can be regarded as a special kind of boundary condition in the sense of Hermitian quantum mechanics.     

Topological Insulators in α-Graphyne

In this paper, we investigate topological phases of α-graphyne with tight-binding method. By calculating the topological invariant Z2 and the edge states, we identify topological insulators. We present the phase diagrams of α-graphyne with different filling fractions as a function of spin-orbit interaction and the nearest-neighbor hopping energy. We find there exist topological insulators in α-graphyne. We analyze and discuss the characteristics of topological phases of α-graphyne.     

圆环结构磁光光子晶体中的拓扑相变

二维圆环结构的三角晶格磁光光子晶体中可以呈现多重拓扑相.在不同的几何参数和磁场下,这些拓扑相包括正常光子带隙相、量子自旋霍尔相和反常量子霍尔相.与文献[1]类似,该结果展现了二维光子晶体丰富的拓扑相变现象.