Models based on non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can exhibit a range of surprising and potentially useful phenomena. Physical realizations typically involve couplings to sources of incoherent gain and loss; this is problematic in quantum settings because of the unavoidable fluctuations associated with this dissipation. Here, we present several routes for obtaining unconditional non-Hermitian dynamics in nondissipative quantum systems. We exploit the fact that quadratic bosonic Hamiltonians that do not conserve particle number give rise to non-Hermitian dynamical matrices. We discuss the nature of these mappings from non-Hermitian to Hermitian Hamiltonians, and explore applications to quantum sensing, entanglement dynamics, and topological band theory. The systems we discuss could be realized in a variety of photonic and phononic platforms using the ubiquitous resource of parametric driving.
Models based on non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can exhibit a range of surprising and potentially useful phenomena. Physical realizations typically involve couplings to sources of incoherent gain and loss; this is problematic in quantum settings because of the unavoidable fluctuations associated with this dissipation. Here, we present several routes for obtaining unconditional non-Hermitian dynamics in nondissipative quantum systems. We exploit the fact that quadratic bosonic Hamiltonians that do not conserve particle number give rise to non-Hermitian dynamical matrices. We discuss the nature of these mappings from non-Hermitian to Hermitian Hamiltonians, and explore applications to quantum sensing, entanglement dynamics, and topological band theory. The systems we discuss could be realized in a variety of photonic and phononic platforms using the ubiquitous resource of parametric driving.
Non-Hermitian physics has emerged as a rapidly advancing field of research, revealing a range of novel phenomena and potential applications. Traditional non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are typically simulated by constructing asymmetric couplings or by introducing dissipation and gain to realize non-Hermitian systems. The quadratic bosonic system (QBS) with squeezing interaction is intrinsically Hermitian; however, its dynamical evolution matrix in both real and momentum spaces is non-Hermitian. Based on this, applying a field-operator transformation xp to the dynamical evolution matrix yields quadrature nonreciprocal transmission between the x and p operators. This nonreciprocal characteristic can be utilized in signal amplifiers. On the other hand, within the Bogoliubov-de Gennes framework in momentum space, one can observe non-Hermitian topological phenomena such as point-gap topology and the non-Hermitian skin effect, both induced by spectra with nonzero winding numbers. Additionally, QBS can be employed to realize non-Hermitian Aharonov-Bohm cages and to extend non-Bloch band theory. Previous studies in non-Hermitian physics have largely concentrated on classical systems. The influence of non-Hermitian properties on quantum effects remains a key issue awaiting exploration and has evolved into a research direction at the interface of non-Hermitian and quantum physics.
The exploration of non-Hermitian physics has predominantly been a frontier in quantum mechanics, revealing exotic phenomena not observed in conventional Hermitian systems. However, its extension to classical mechanics offers a rich and largely untapped avenue for understanding open and active systems characterized by dissipation and gain. This paper systematically investigates the theoretical foundations of non-Hermitian classical mechanics, focusing on the emergence and implications of dissipation and gain symmetries. We demonstrate how concepts like parity-time (PT) symmetry and pseudo-Hermiticity, originally quantum mechanical, find natural classical analogues in systems with balanced energy loss and amplification. The study delves into the modification of classical Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formalisms to accommodate non-conservative forces, leading to complex-valued potentials and phase space trajectories. We explore the role of exceptional points as spectral degeneracies in these classical systems, showing how they govern the dynamics and give rise to unique phenomena such as unidirectional transport and enhanced sensitivity. Furthermore, we discuss the practical implications for designing classical mechanical systems with tailored dissipative and amplification properties, opening new possibilities for classical sensing, energy harvesting, and wave manipulation. This work aims to establish a robust theoretical framework for non-Hermitian classical mechanics, highlighting its potential to unveil emergent symmetries and complex dynamics in macroscopic systems.
Traditional thermodynamics, built upon the foundation of Hermitian quantum mechanics, primarily describes closed or weakly open systems where energy is conserved. However, the ubiquitous presence of dissipation and gain in realistic physical and biological systems necessitates a more generalized framework. Non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, characterized by Hamiltonians with complex eigenvalues, naturally accounts for such open systems and their interaction with the environment. This paper explores the burgeoning field of non-Hermitian thermodynamics, which aims to extend classical and quantum thermodynamic principles to systems exhibiting energy exchange with their surroundings. We delve into how non-Hermiticity provides a natural language for describing processes involving dissipation, gain, and decoherence, thereby offering a unified perspective on these phenomena. Key concepts such as PT-symmetry, exceptional points, and generalized definitions of work, heat, and entropy in non-Hermitian settings are reviewed. The paper discusses the implications for fundamental thermodynamic laws, the performance of non-Hermitian heat engines, and the role of coherence in energy transport. By embracing the mathematical elegance and physical insights of non-Hermitian physics, we propose a comprehensive framework that unifies the seemingly disparate concepts of dissipation and coherence within a consistent thermodynamic theory, paving the way for advanced applications in quantum technologies, materials science, and biological energy transfer.
Non-Hermitian physics exhibits unique physical properties beyond those of traditional Hermitian systems, such as symmetry breaking, the emergence of exceptional points, topological phase transitions, and more. These phenomena have been extensively studied across various platforms, including quantum optics, cold atom systems, superconducting circuits, and condensed matter physics. Rydberg atoms, with their long-range interactions and flexible controllability, provide a promising platform for the experimental realization of non-Hermitian physics. This review primarily summarizes the key experimental and theoretical achievements in the field of non-Hermitian physics within Rydberg atomic systems in recent years. It outlines the fundamental construction of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, reveals the effective dissipation mechanisms induced by Rydberg atomic interactions, and discusses their impact on spectral properties and symmetry breaking. These studies not only deepen the understanding of quantum phase transitions in non-Hermitian many-body systems but also highlight the unique value of Rydberg atomic platforms in realizing and controlling topological states.
Recent advances in non-Hermitian physical systems have led to numerous novel optical phenomena and applications. Such systems typically involve gain and loss associated with dissipative coupling to the environment, hence interesting quantum phenomena are often washed out, rendering most realizations classical. Here, in contrast, we propose to employ dissipative coupling to enable quantum correlations. In particular, two distant optical channels are judiciously designed to couple to and exchange information with a common reservoir environment, under an anti-parity-time-symmetric setting of hot but coherent atoms. We realize a non-Hermitian nonlinear phase sensitive parametric process, where atomic motion leads to quantum correlations between two distant light beams in the symmetry-unbroken phase. This Letter starts a new route to exploring the non-Hermitian quantum phenomena by bridging the fields of atomic physics, non-Hermitian optics, quantum information, and reservoir engineering. Potential applications include novel quantum light sources, quantum information processing and sensing, and generalization to correlated many-body systems.
Non-Hermitian disordered systems have emerged as a central arena in modern physics, with ramifications spanning condensed matter, quantum, statistical, and high energy contexts. The same principles also underlie phenomena beyond physics, such as network science, complex systems, and biophysics, where dissipation, nonreciprocity, and stochasticity are ubiquitous. Here, we review the physics and mathematics of non-Hermitian disordered systems, with particular emphasis on non-Hermitian random matrix theory. We begin by presenting the 38-fold symmetry classification of non-Hermitian systems, contrasting it with the 10-fold way for Hermitian systems. After introducing the classic Ginibre ensembles of non-Hermitian random matrices, we survey various diagnostics for complex-spectral statistics and distinct universality classes realized by symmetry. As a key application to physics, we discuss how non-Hermitian random matrix theory characterizes chaos and integrability in open quantum systems. We then turn to the criticality due to the interplay of disorder and non-Hermiticity, including Anderson transitions in the Hatano-Nelson model and its higher-dimensional extensions. We also discuss the effective field theory description of non-Hermitian disordered systems in terms of nonlinear sigma models.