Simulation of the multiphase configuration and phase transitions with quantum walks utilizing a step-dependent coin

TL;DR

This paper explores how step-dependent coins in quantum walks can simulate multiple topological phases, their invariants, and phase transitions, revealing complex multiphase configurations and bound state behaviors similar to topological insulators.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using step-dependent coins in quantum walks to simulate and analyze multiphase topological configurations and phase transitions.

Findings

Simulates non-trivial topological phases with winding numbers ±1

Number of phases and bound states increase with steps

Phase transitions occur over bound states and between phases with different invariants

Abstract

Quantum walks are versatile simulators of topological phases and phase transitions as observed in condensed matter physics. Here, we utilize a step dependent coin in quantum walks and investigate what topological phases we can simulate with it, their topological invariants, bound states and possibility of phase transitions. These quantum walks simulate non-trivial phases characterized by topological invariants (winding number) $\pm 1$ which are similar to the ones observed in topological insulators and polyacetylene. We confirm that the number of phases and their corresponding bound states increase step dependently. In contrast, the size of topological phase and distance between two bound states are decreasing functions of steps resulting into formation of multiple phases as quantum walks proceed (multiphase configuration). We show that, in the bound states, the winding number and group velocity are ill-defined, and the second moment of the probability density distribution in position space undergoes an abrupt change. Therefore, there are phase transitions taking place over the bound states and between two topological phases with different winding numbers.