Pseudo-Hermitian Magnon Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in pseudo-Hermitian physics applied to magnon systems, highlighting unique phenomena like non-reciprocal propagation and topological energy transfer in magnetically ordered materials.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of how pseudo-Hermitian concepts are applied to low-energy magnon excitations, including various experimental setups and novel physical effects.

Findings

Demonstration of mode amplification and non-reciprocal propagation in magnonic systems

Identification of the non-Hermitian skin effect and magnon cloaking phenomena

Application of PT-symmetric Floquet engineering to magnetic excitations

Abstract

A defining quantity of a physical system is its energy which is represented by the Hamiltonian. In closed quantum mechanical or/and coherent wave-based systems the Hamiltonian is introduced as a Hermitian operator which ensures real energy spectrum and secures the decomposition of any state over a complete basis set spanning the space where the states live. Pseudo-Hermitian, or PT symmetric, systems are a special class of non-Hermitian ones. They describe open systems but may still have real energy spectrum. The eigenmodes are however not orthogonal in general. This qualitative difference to Hermitian physics has a range of consequences for the physical behaviour of the system in the steady state or when it is subjected to external perturbations. This overview reviews the recent progress in the field of pseudo-Hermitian physics as it unfolds when applied to low-energy excitations of magnetically ordered materials. The focus is mainly on long wave length spin excitations (spin waves) with magnons being the energy quanta of these excitations. Various setups including ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, magnonic crystals, and hybride structures with different types of coupling to the environments as well as spatio-temporally engineered systems will be discussed with a focus on the particular aspects that are brought about by the pseudo-Hermiticity such as mode amplifications, non-reciprocal propagation, magnon cloaking, non-Hermitian skin effect, PT-symmetric assisted Floquet engineering, topological energy transfer, and field-induced enhanced sensitivity.