Abstract
摘要 |
In closed quantum systems, a dynamical phase transition is identified by nonanalytic behaviors of the return probability as a function of time. In this work, we study the nonunitary dynamics following quenches across exceptional points in a non-Hermitian lattice realizable by optical resonators. Dynamical quantum phase transitions with topological signatures are found when an isolated exceptional point is crossed during the quench. A winding number defined by a real, noncyclic geometric phase is introduced, whose value features quantized jumps at critical times of these phase transitions and remains constant elsewhere, playing the role of a topological order parameter. This work provides a simple framework to study dynamical and topological quantum phase transitions in non-Hermitian systems. Ref: arXiv:1711.10741 |