The concept of parity-time (PT) symmetry originates from the framework of quantum mechanics, where if the Hamiltonian operator satisfies the commutation relation with the parity and time operators, it shows real energy spectrum. Recently, PT symmetry was introduced into various systems, such as optics, electronic circuits, acoustics, and other classical fields to further study the dynamical behaviors of the Hamiltonian and the energies. To focus on the dynamical evolution of the quantum state, here we experimentally studied the dynamical evolution of a two-level quantum system under the PT symmetric Hamiltonian using single-photon system. By enlarging the system using ancillary qubit and encoding the subsystem under the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian with post-selection, the evolution of the state can be characterized with a high fidelity. Owing to the effectively operation of the dilation method, our work provides a route for further exploiting the exotic properties of PT symmetric Hamiltonian for quantum simulation and quantum information processing.
\n\nThe evolution of a two-level quantum system with a general parity-time-reversal-invariant Hamiltonian is reinterpreted as a subsystem in a four-dimensional Hilbert space, which makes it possible to simulate any two-level parity-time-symmetric (PT-symmetric) quantum system using a conventional quantum mechanics system. We studied the ability to simulate and investigate novel quantum systems and phenomena using a nowadays-available Hermitian quantum computer or a duality quantum computer. The quantum circuits are given for a qubit and two qudit systems, and they would be useful for experimental implementation and applications in the future.\n
Abstract The recently theoretical and experimental researches on
PT PT -symmetric system have attracted unprecedented attention because of the various interesting features and potential applications in extending canonical quantum mechanics. However, as the counterpart of
PT PT -symmetry, there are few experimental researches on the anti-
PT PT -symmetric quantum system because of the challenges in simulating anti-
PT PT -symmetry in experiment. Here, we propose an algorithm for simulating the generalized anti-
PT PT -symmetric system in the quantum circuit model. Utilizing the algorithm, we demonstrated the quantum simulation of anti-
PT PT system experimentally, and an oscillation of information flow is observed in a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum simulator. The experiment showed that the information could recover from the environment completely when the anti-
PT PT -symmetry is broken, whereas no information can be retrieved in the symmetry-unbroken phase. Our work opens the gate for the practical quantum simulation and experimental investigation of universal anti-
PT PT -symmetric system in a quantum computer.
\n\nIn this work, quantum simulation of the evolution of a two-level quantum system with a generalized anti-PT(APT)-symmetric Hamiltonian in arbitrary phase is investigated theoretically. The evolution is reinterpreted as a subsystem in a Hilbert space of higher dimensions, enabling it to construct any two-dimensional APT-symmetric Hamiltonian in a Hermitian quantum system. In some special phases, a two-qubit quantum computer is able to achieve the quantum simulation. However, a minimum six-dimensional Hilbert space is necessary for a general case, indicating that a qutrit is needed as an ancillary. We show how to realize the simulation process in a qubit-qutrit hybrid system using the duality quantum algorithm. We also give the flow chart and quantum circuit for a quantum computer of three qubits to realize the quantum simulation. Therefore, experimental realizations and applications can be expected in the future.\n
In recent years, non-Hermitian parity-time (
PT)-symmetric quantum systems have gained significant attention due to their unique physical properties, with experimental realizations demonstrated across diverse platforms. Two popular approaches have been used to implement
PT-symmetric dynamics: one removes quantum jumps from dissipative natural atoms (e.g., cold atoms, trapped ions) or artificial atoms (e.g., superconducting qubits) through postselection whose experimental fidelity is severely limited by unavoidable population backflow effects; the other embeds the desired non-Hermitian Hamiltonian into a larger Hermitian system, which achieves higher fidelity but typically enables simulating
PT-symmetric dynamics only within restricted parameter regimes. This paper proposes and experimentally demonstrates a trapped-ion-based scheme for digital simulation of
PT-symmetric quantum systems with high fidelity across the full parameter space. By leveraging high-fidelity logic gates and postselection on a four-level single ion to synthesize the target
PT-symmetric dynamics, this approach enables accurate characterization of
PT-symmetric properties, especially the exotic features in the vicinity of the exceptional point (EP). Distinct dynamical properties in the
PT-symmetric unbroken phase (PTS),
PT-symmetric broken phase (PTB), and at the EP are experimentally demonstrated with the data agreeing well with theoretical predictions. This high-fidelity simulation scheme also enables precise measurement of quantum Fisher information (QFI) near the EP, essential for evaluating non-Hermitian quantum sensing performance. It is shown that, after accounting for the low postselection probability, QFI divergence near the EP vanishes, providing no more information than their Hermitian counterparts, which echoes with recent theoretical findings. Our scheme establishes a paradigm for full-parameter-space precise simulation of non-Hermitian effects in quantum systems, and is applicable to various other platforms.
Quantum information platforms enable analog quantum simulations, such as quantum annealing, offering a promising route to solving complex combinatorial optimization problems. Here, we propose a quantum information architecture based on networks of interacting parity-time (PT)-symmetric non-Hermitian qubits. While the dynamics of individual PT-symmetric qubits have been experimentally demonstrated across multiple platforms including NV centers, superconducting circuits, and trapped-ion systems yet coherent dynamics in interacting systems remain largely unexplored. To address this issue we theoretically investigate stationary and time-dependent Hamiltonians relevant to quantum annealing using a minimal model of two interacting XX-coupled PT-symmetric non-Hermitian qubits. We analyze both symmetry-preserving and symmetry-broken regimes and demonstrate that adding even tiny PT-symmetric non-Hermitian terms in the qubits Hamiltonian allows to greatly enhance the probability of reaching the ground state after annealing.