Topological circuit of a versatile non-Hermitian quantum system

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile RLC circuit that simulates a non-Hermitian SSH model, revealing rich topological phenomena such as bulk-edge correspondence and skin effects, demonstrating the potential of electrical circuits for exploring complex topological physics.

Contribution

It presents a novel RLC circuit design to fully simulate and analyze a non-Hermitian topological model with complex hoppings, expanding the experimental platform for topological physics.

Findings

Demonstration of tunable bulk-edge correspondence

Observation of non-Hermitian skin effect

Identification of complex energy plane topology

Abstract

We propose an resistors, inductors and capacitors (RLC) electrical circuit to theoretically analyze and fully simulate a new type of non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model with complex hoppings. We formulate its construction and investigate its properties by taking advantage of the circuit's versatility. Rich physical properties can be identified in this system from the normal modes of oscillation of the RLC circuit, including the highly tunable bulk-edge correspondence between topological winding numbers and edge states and the non-Hermitian skin phenomenon originating from a novel complex energy plane topology. The present study is able to show the wide and appealing topological physics inherent to electric circuits, which is readily generalizable to a plenty of both Hermitian and non-Hermitian nontrivial systems.