Kramers' degeneracy theorem underpins many interesting effects in quantum systems with time-reversal symmetry. We show that the generator of dynamics for Markovian open fermionic systems can exhibit an analogous degeneracy, protected by a combination of time-reversal symmetry and the microreversibility (detailed balance) property of systems at thermal equilibrium---the degeneracy is lifted if either condition is not met. We provide simple examples of this phenomenon and show that the degeneracy is reflected in the single-particle Green's functions. Furthermore, we show that certain experimental signatures of topological edge modes in open many-body systems can be protected by microreversibility in the same way. Our results highlight the importance of detailed balance in characterizing open topological matter.
For ordinary hermitian Hamiltonians, the states show the Kramers degeneracy when the system has a half-odd-integer spin and the time reversal operator obeys \Theta^2=-1, but no such a degeneracy exists when \Theta^2=+1. Here we point out that for non-hermitian systems, there exists a degeneracy similar to Kramers even when \Theta^2=+1. It is found that the new degeneracy follows from the mathematical structure of split-quaternion, instead of quaternion from which the Kramers degeneracy follows in the usual hermitian cases. Furthermore, we also show that particle/hole symmetry gives rise to a pair of states with opposite energies on the basis of the split quaternion in a class of non-hermitian Hamiltonians. As concrete examples, we examine in detail NxN Hamiltonians with N=2 and 4 which are non-hermitian generalizations of spin 1/2 Hamiltonian and quadrupole Hamiltonian of spin 3/2, respectively.
In a recent paper [M. Sato, K. Hasebe, K. Esaki, and M. Kohmoto, Prog. Theor. Phys. 127, 937 (2012)] Sato and his collaborators established a generalization of the Kramers degeneracy structure to pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems, admitting even time-reversal symmetry, |
T2=1|. This extension is achieved using the mathematical structure of split-quaternions instead of quaternions, usually adopted in the case of Hermitian Hamiltonians with odd time-reversal symmetry, |
T2=−1|. Here we find that the metric operator for the pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian |
H| that allows the realization of the generalized Kramers degeneracy is necessarily indefinite. We show that such |
H| with real spectrum also possesses odd antilinear symmetry induced from the existing odd time-reversal symmetry of its Hermitian counterpart |
h|, so that the generalized Kramers degeneracy of |
H| is in fact crypto-Hermitian Kramers degeneracy. We study in greater detail a new example of the pseudo-Hermitian split-quaternionic four-level Hamiltonian system, which admits an indefinite metric operator and time-reversal symmetry and, as a consequence, a generalized Kramers degeneracy structure. We provide a complete solution of the eigenvalue problem, construct pseudo-Hermitian ladder operators closing the normal and abnormal pseudo-fermionic algebras, and show that this system fulfills a crypto-Hermitian degeneracy.
For ordinary Hermitian Hamiltonians, the states support the mathematical structure of quaternion and show the Kramers degeneracy when the system has a half-odd-integer spin and the time-reversal operator obeys Θ 2 = -1, while no such structure exists when Θ 2 = +1.Here, we point out that for non-Hermitian systems, there exists a similar mathematical structure called split-quaternion even when Θ 2 = +1.It is also found that a degeneracy similar to the Kramers degeneracy follows from the split-quaternion structure if the Hamiltonian is pseudo-Hermitian with the metric operator η satisfying {η, Θ} = 0. Furthermore, we show that particle/hole symmetry gives rise to a pair of states with opposite energies on the basis of the split-quaternion in a class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians.As concrete examples, we examine in detail N × N Hamiltonians with N = 2 and 4, which are non-Hermitian generalizations of spin 1/2 Hamiltonian and quadrupole Hamiltonian of spin 3/2, respectively.
Motivated by the experimental observation of resonant tunneling in systems of half-integer spin, such as V15 and Mn4, we study the mechanism of the adiabatic change of the magnetization in systems with time-reversal symmetry. Although tunneling between the degenerate ground states is suppressed in a simple Kramers doublet, some types of perturbational interactions cause an avoided level crossing structure in the energy level structures when the system possesses additional degeneracy of the ground state. We show that a nonadiabatic transition governed by the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg mechanism occurs in many cases, and also find more general cases of adiabatic change of the magnetization in which LZS mechanism cannot be applied directly.