Localized states and skin effect around non-Hermitian impurities in tight-binding models

Abstract

We use the generalized Bloch theorem formalism of Alase {\it et al.} [{\it Phys. Rev. Lett.} {\bf 117} 076804 (2016)] to analyze simple one-dimensional tight-binding lattice systems connected by Hermitian bonds (all with the same hopping parameter $t$), but containing one bond impurity which can be either Hermitian or non-Hermitian. We calculate the band structure, the bulk-boundary correspondence indicator ($D_L(\epsilon )$) and analyze the eigenvalues of the lattice translation operator ($z$), for each eigenstate. From the $z$ values the generalized Brillouin zone can be reconstructed. If the impurity is Hermitian (and $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric), we find a parameter regime in which two localized edge states separate from the tight-binding band. We then simulate a non-Hermitian impurity by keeping hopping in one direction of the bond impurity the same as the rest of the tight-binding system, and varying only its reciprocal. Again, we find a region with localized edge states, but in this case the energy eigenvalues are purely imaginary. We also find that in this case the two zero energy eigenvectors coalesce, hence this system is an exceptional line. We then perform an interpolative scan between the above two scenarios and find that there is an intermediate region exhibiting a non-Hermitian skin effect. In this region a macroscopic fraction of states acquire complex energy eigenvalues and exhibit localization towards the impurity. Our numerical results are supported by a detailed analysis of the solutions of the boundary/impurity equation.

References in corpus (11)

• Making Sense of Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians
• Loss-induced suppression and revival of lasing
• Visualization of Branch Points in PT-Symmetric Waveguides
• Efficient Light Funneling based on the non-Hermitian Skin Effect
• Topological Defects and Gapless Modes in Insulators and Superconductors
• Topological phases in the non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model
• Entanglement and spin squeezing in non-Hermitian phase transitions
• Topological collective plasmons in bipartite chains of metallic nanoparticles
• A generalization of Bloch's theorem for arbitrary boundary conditions: Theory
• Accumulation of scale-free localized states induced by local non-Hermiticity
• Exact solution of single impurity problem in non-reciprocal lattices: impurity induced size-dependent non-Hermitian skin effect