Simple harmonic oscillation in non-Hermitian SSH chain at exceptional point

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a non-Hermitian SSH chain at the exceptional point can exhibit Hermitian-like simple harmonic oscillations, revealing new dynamics in open quantum systems with balanced gain and loss.

Contribution

It provides an exact solution showing Hermitian-like harmonic motion in a non-Hermitian system at the exceptional point, with a novel wavepacket deformation behavior.

Findings

Achieves long-wavelength standing waves at the exceptional point.

Decomposes the Hilbert space into quasi-Hermitian subspaces.

Constructs a coherent-like state exhibiting perfect SHM.

Abstract

The balance of gain and loss in an open system may maintain certain Hermitian dynamical behaviors, which can be hardly observed in a popular Hermitian system. In this paper, we systematically study a 1D PT -symmetry non-Hermitian SSH model with open boundary condition based on exact approximate solution. We show that the long-wave length standing-wave modes can be achieved within the linear dispersion region when the system is tuned at the exceptional point (EP). The whole Hilbert space can be decomposed into two quasi-Hermitian subspaces, which are consisted of positive and negative energy levels, respectively. Within each subspace, the system maintains all the features of a Hermitian one. We construct a coherent-like state in a subspace and find that it exhibits perfect simple harmonic motion (SHM). In contrast to a canonical coherent state, the shape of the wavepacket deforms periodically rather than entirely translation. And the amplitude of the SHM is not determined by the initial condition but the shape of the wavepacket. Our result indicates that novel Hermitian dynamics can be realized by a non-Hermitian system.