Title

Crossing exceptional points without phase transition

Authors

Qi Zhong, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Ramy El-Ganainy, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-15-2019

Abstract

We show that the theoretical framework linking exceptional points (EPs) to phase transitions in parity-time (PT) symmetric Hamiltonians is incomplete. Particularly, we demonstrate that the application of the squaring operator to a Jx PT lattice dramatically alter the topology of its Riemann surface, eventually resulting in a system that can cross an EP without undergoing a symmetry breaking. We elucidate on these rather surprising results by invoking the notion of phase diagrams in higher dimensional parameter space. Within this perspective, the canonical PT symmetry breaking paradigm arises only along certain projections of the Riemann surface in the parameter space.

Publisher's Statement

© The Author(s) 2019. Article deposited here in compliance with publisher policies. Publisher's version of record: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36701-9

Publication Title

Scienctific Reports

Recommended Citation

Zhong, Q., & El-Ganainy, R. (2019). Crossing exceptional points without phase transition. Scienctific Reports, 9. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36701-9
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/154

Version

Publisher's PDF