Exceptional entanglement in non-Hermitian fermionic models

TL;DR

This paper explores the quantum entanglement properties of non-Hermitian fermionic models with exceptional points, revealing novel relationships with conformal field theories and identifying unique zero-energy modes.

Contribution

It systematically investigates entanglement at spectral exceptional points and links non-unitary conformal field theories to non-Hermitian spectral phenomena, introducing new insights into exceptional modes.

Findings

Relationship between non-unitary CFTs and $k$-linear SEPs

Identification of complex conformal field theories via complex central charges

Discovery of zero-energy exceptional modes distinct from topological modes

Abstract

Exotic singular objects, known as exceptional points, are ubiquitous in non-Hermitian physics. They might be spectral singularities in energy bands that produce anomalous effects and defectiveness. The quantum entanglement of a generic non-Hermitian model with two different types of spectral exceptional points (SEPs) is systematically investigated in this paper. We discovered a relationship between non-unitary conformal field theories and the $k$-linear-type SEPs, which is typically associated with $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry or pesdo-Hermicity spontaneous breaking. The underlying association between $k$-square-root-type SEPs, which arise concurrently with real (imaginary) gap closing in the complex spectrum, mimicking first-order-phase-transition criticalities, and complex conformal field theories (cCFTs) is addressed through the calculation of complex central charges. From the entanglement spectrum, zero-energy exceptional modes are found to be distinct from normal zero modes or topological boundary modes. Finally, we include a brief discussion of analogous non-Hermitian quantum spin models and endeavor to establish an intuitive understanding of exceptional points through the spin picture in various scenarios.