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Topology and exceptional points of massive Dirac models with generic non-Hermitian perturbations

W. B. Rui, Y. X. Zhao, and Andreas P. Schnyder
Phys. Rev. B 99, 241110(R) – Published 20 June 2019
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Abstract

Recently, there has been a lot of activity in the research field of topological non-Hermitian physics, partly driven by fundamental interests and partly driven by applications in photonics. However, despite these activities, a general classification and characterization of non-Hermitian Dirac models that describe the experimental systems is missing. Here, we present a systematic investigation of massive Dirac models on periodic lattices, perturbed by general non-Hermitian terms. We find that there are three different types of non-Hermitian terms. For each case we determine the bulk exceptional points, the boundary modes, and the band topology. Our findings serve as guiding principles for the design of applications, for example, in photonic lattices. For instance, periodic Dirac systems with non-Hermitian mass terms can be used as topological lasers. Periodic Dirac systems with non-Hermitian anticommuting terms, on the other hand, exhibit exceptional points at the surface, whose nontrivial topology could be utilized for optical devices.

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  • Received 20 February 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.99.241110

©2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsAtomic, Molecular & OpticalGeneral Physics

Authors & Affiliations

W. B. Rui1, Y. X. Zhao2,3,*, and Andreas P. Schnyder1,†

  • 1Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
  • 2National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • 3Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

  • *zhaoyx@nju.edu.cn
  • a.schnyder@fkf.mpg.de

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Issue

Vol. 99, Iss. 24 — 15 June 2019

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