Giant atom induced zero modes and localization in the nonreciprocal Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a giant atom coupled to a nonreciprocal SSH chain influences zero modes and localization, revealing asymmetric zero modes and bipolar localization effects that differ from traditional boundary conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel boundary condition via a giant atom in a non-Hermitian system and analyzes its effects on eigenstate localization and zero modes, highlighting weaker localization compared to small atoms or open boundaries.

Findings

Giant atom induces asymmetric zero modes.

Bulk states can localize at specific chain-atom sites.

Localization is weaker with giant atoms than with small atoms or open boundaries.

Abstract

A notable feature of non-Hermitian systems with skin effects is the sensitivity of their spectra and eigenstates to the boundary conditions. In the literature, three types of boundary conditions-periodic boundary condition,open boundary condition and a defect in the system as a boundary, are explored. In this work we introduce the other type of boundary condition provided by a giant atom. The giant atom couples to a nonreciprocal SuSchrieffer-Heeger chain at two points and plays the role of defects. We study the spectrum and localization of eigenstates of the system and find that the giant atom can induce asymmetric zero modes. A remarkable feature is that bulk states might localize at the left or the right chain-atom coupling sites in weak localization regimes. This bipolar localization leads to Bloch-like states, even though translational invariance is broken. Moreover, we find that the localization is obviously weaker than the case with two small atoms or open boundary conditions even in strong coupling regimes. These intriguing results indicate that nonlocal coupling of giant atom to a nonreciprocal SSH chain weakens localization of the eigenstates. We also show that the Lyapunov exponent in the long-time dynamics in real space can act as a witness of the localized bulk states.