Localization and Transport in a Non-Hermitian Hexagonal Harper Model

Abstract

We investigate a one-dimensional non-Hermitian hexagonal Harper model with quasiperiodically modulated hopping amplitudes. In the Hermitian limit, the model exhibits metallic, insulating, and multifractal phases characterized by distinct eigenstate properties. Upon introducing non- Hermiticity, the phase diagram is qualitatively altered, with an expansion of metallic regions and strong boundary sensitivity arising from the non-Hermitian skin effect. By analyzing wave-packet dynamics, we uncover qualitatively distinct transport signatures in metallic, multifractal, and in- sulating regimes. In the metallic region, nonreciprocal hopping induces finite sliding, resulting in ballistic center-of-mass motion that is absent in the Hermitian model, while wave-packet spreading is simultaneously suppressed and exhibits diffusive scaling. Interestingly, the multifractal regime emerges as a distinct dynamical phase supporting both enhanced spreading and finite sliding, both primarily of superdiffusive nature, in contrast to metallic regions where sliding (spreading) shows ballistic (diffusive) scaling. These features are markedly different from their Hermitian counterpart. On the other hand, in the insulating region, both the spreading and sliding are strongly suppressed. We reconfirm these intriguing transport characteristics by investigating the distinct growth profile of single-particle entanglement entropy where the effect of spreading of the wave-packet is clearly manifested. These results demonstrate that quasiperiodicity in hopping amplitudes, combined with non-Hermiticity, establishes the multifractal regime as a key mediator of transport.