Versatile braiding of non-Hermitian topological edge states
Bofeng Zhu, Qiang Wang, You Wang, Qi Jie Wang, Y. D. Chong
Abstract
The mathematical concept of braiding describes how string-like objects can be interwoven, including topologically distinct ``links'' and ``knots''. A physical setting for realizing braids is the complex energy levels of non-Hermitian systems. The authors introduce here a route to generating energy braids, using topological edge states of non-Hermitian lattices. The model hosts braids like Solomon links and [$n$]-catenanes, which have not yet been observed physically. The model is experimentally feasible, requiring only a lattice with local gain and loss, without nonreciprocal coupling.
Topics & Concepts
Hermitian matrixEnhanced Data Rates for GSM EvolutionTopology (electrical circuits)PhysicsTheoretical physicsMathematicsQuantum mechanicsComputer scienceCombinatoricsTelecommunicationsQuantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian PhysicsTopological Materials and Phenomena