Dynamical quantum phase transitions in non-Hermitian lattices

In closed quantum systems, a dynamical phase transition is identified by nonanalytic behaviors of the return probability as a function of time. In this work, we study the nonunitary dynamics following quenches across exceptional points in a non-Hermitian lattice realized by optical resonators. Dynam...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhou, Longwen, Wang, Qing-hai, Wang, Hailong, Gong, Jiangbin
Other Authors: School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/89133
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/46133
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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Summary:In closed quantum systems, a dynamical phase transition is identified by nonanalytic behaviors of the return probability as a function of time. In this work, we study the nonunitary dynamics following quenches across exceptional points in a non-Hermitian lattice realized by optical resonators. Dynamical quantum phase transitions with topological signatures are found when an isolated exceptional point is crossed during the quench. A topological winding number defined by a real, noncyclic geometric phase is introduced, whose value features quantized jumps at critical times of these phase transitions and remains constant elsewhere, mimicking the plateau transitions in quantum Hall effects. This work provides a simple framework to study dynamical and topological responses in non-Hermitian systems.