We investigate the theory of exceptional points (EPs); degeneracies of non-hermitian systems famous for the swaps of eigenstates that arise when encircling the EP according to the adiabatic approximation. We review various characterizations of EPs that are used in the literature. We observe that they are not equivalent and consequently a unanimous definition is lacking. The theory of PT symmetric systems is studied as an aid in the study of EPs. In particular, we deal explicitly with a three-channel waveguide system originating from PT theory and supporting various EPs. We show how one can properly compose the eigenvalue permutations arising from EPs and how this generates a non-abelian group which we call the Λ-group. We finish with the needed geometry as induced by the adiabatic approximation. The adiabatic change as measured in experiment can be modelled naturally on a principal C× o Sn-bundle consisting of the eigenframes of the operator family. To the best of our knowledge this bundle is not found in the literature to date. The adiabatic approximation induces a canonical connection on this bundle. The special shape of the holonomy group induces three groups, one of which is the Λ-group, that fit together in a short exact sequence
(SES). This SES can be used to describe and distinguish degeneracy structures. In particular, the Λ-group allows one to phrase a new definition of exceptional point
that specializes existing definitions. Explicitly, one can define an EP by demanding that swaps of eigenvalues occur arbitrarily close to the EP. This definition is widely applicable, yet guarantees that the eigenvalue and eigenstates sheets are connected in a non-trivial way.
We investigate the theory of exceptional points (EPs); degeneracies of non-hermitian systems famous for the swaps of eigenstates that arise when encircling the EP according to the adiabatic approximation. We review various characterizations of EPs that are used in the literature. We observe that they are not equivalent and consequently a unanimous definition is lacking. The theory of PT symmetric systems is studied as an aid in the study of EPs. In particular, we deal explicitly with a three-channel waveguide system originating from PT theory and supporting various EPs. We show how one can properly compose the eigenvalue permutations arising from EPs and how this generates a non-abelian group which we call the Λ-group. We finish with the needed geometry as induced by the adiabatic approximation. The adiabatic change as measured in experiment can be modelled naturally on a principal C× o Sn-bundle consisting of the eigenframes of the operator family. To the best of our knowledge this bundle is not found in the literature to date. The adiabatic approximation induces a canonical connection on this bundle. The special shape of the holonomy group induces three groups, one of which is the Λ-group, that fit together in a short exact sequence
(SES). This SES can be used to describe and distinguish degeneracy structures. In particular, the Λ-group allows one to phrase a new definition of exceptional point
that specializes existing definitions. Explicitly, one can define an EP by demanding that swaps of eigenvalues occur arbitrarily close to the EP. This definition is widely applicable, yet guarantees that the eigenvalue and eigenstates sheets are connected in a non-trivial way.
The phenomenon of degeneracy of energy levels is often attributed either to an underlying (super)symmetry (SUSY), or to the presence of a Kato exceptional point (EP). In our paper a conceptual bridge between the two notions is proposed to be provided by the recent upgrade of the basic principles of quantum theory called, equivalently, PT − symmetric or three-Hilbert-space (3HS) or quasi-Hermitian formulation in the current physical literature. Although the original purpose of the 3HS approach laid in the mere simplification of technicalities, it is shown here to serve also as a natural theoretical link between the apparently remote concepts of EPs and SUSY. An explicit illustration of their close mutual interplay is provided by the description of infinitely many supersymmetric, mutually non-equivalent and EP-separated regularized spiked harmonic oscillators.
Open photonic systems provide a versatile platform for non-Hermitian physics, enabling control over complex spectra, transport, and light-matter interactions. Exceptional points (EPs), at which eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce and the governing operator becomes defective, play a central role because they combine branch-point spectral topology, nonanalytic perturbative response, and controllable eigenstate conversion. This Review provides a unified framework for EP photonics by systematically distinguishing exceptional degeneracies according to the underlying operator, spectral variable, boundary conditions, and experimentally accessible observables. We discuss Hamiltonian EPs, absorbing EPs associated with scattering zeros, real-frequency scattering-matrix and Jones-matrix EPs, Bloch and Floquet EPs, and Liouvillian EPs in open quantum systems. We review their spectral topology, static and dynamical encircling, higher-order exceptional structures, and coexistence with bound states in the continuum, together with applications in sensing, lasing, coherent absorption, directional scattering, polarization and wavefront control, nonlinear optics, optical storage, nonreciprocal photonics, and quantum photonics. We also critically assess the current limitations, practical challenges, and future perspectives of EP-based photonic technologies, with particular attention to robustness, noise, scalability, and experimentally measurable performance.
An exceptional point (EP) is exclusive for non-Hermitian systems and distinct from that at a degeneracy point (DP), supporting intriguing dynamics which can be utilized to probe quantum phase transitions and prepare eigenstates in a Hermitian many-body system. In this paper, we investigate the transition from a DP for a Hermitian system to an EP driven by non-Hermitian terms. We present a theorem on the existence of a transition between a DP and EP for a general system. Specifically, one of twofold degenerate eigenstates of a Hermitian system becomes a coalescing state when a selected non-Hermitian term is added. The obtained EP is robust to the strength of non-Hermitian terms. We illustrate the theorem by an exactly solvable quasi-one-dimensional model, which allows for the existence of a transition between fully degenerate and exceptional spectra driven by non-Hermitian tunnelings in real and k spaces, respectively. We also study the EP dynamics for generating coalescing edge modes in Su-Schrieffer-Heeger-like models. This finding reveals the ubiquitous connection between DPs and EPs.
Abstract Exceptional points (EPs) occur in non-Hermitian systems where eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce. In open quantum systems, EPs are typically studied via non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonians or Liouvillians, but these omit the full generality of quantum dynamics, which requires description using quantum channels. Here, we introduce a general strategy for generating quantum-channel EPs in the single-qubit setting. We show that quantum channels naturally fall into two distinct phases, purely real or complex-conjugate eigenvalues, without the need of enforcing additional symmetries, and interpolating between different phases induces a phase transition where EPs can emerge. We experimentally simulate such channels on a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computer, observing second-order quantum-channel EPs with 93% fidelity, and extend the approach to three channels to uncover exceptional lines and a third-order quantum-channel EP. Our results promise potential applications from enhanced quantum sensing to quantum control, such as Jordan-chain mediated asymmetric conversion.
Exceptional points (EPs), the degeneracy points of non-Hermitian systems, have recently attracted great attention because of their potential of enhancing the sensitivity of quantum sensors. Unlike the usual degeneracies in Hermitian systems, at EPs, both the eigenenergies and eigenvectors coalesce. Although EPs have been widely explored, the range of EPs studied is largely limited by the underlying systems, for instance, higher-order EPs are hard to achieve. Here we propose an extendable method to simulate non-Hermitian systems and study EPs with quantum circuits. The system is inherently parity-time (PT) broken due to the non-symmetric controlling effects of the circuit. Inspired by the quantum Zeno effect, the circuit structure guarantees the success rate of the post-selection. A sample circuit is implemented in a quantum programming framework, and the phase transition at EP is demonstrated. Considering the scalable and flexible nature of quantum circuits, our model is capable of simulating large-scale systems with higher-order EPs.
Non-Hermitian systems have attracted much interest in recent decades, driven partly by the existence of exotic spectral singularities, known as exceptional points (EPs), where the dimensionality of the system evolution operator is reduced. Among various intriguing applications, the discovery of EPs has suggested the potential for implementing a symmetric mode switch, when encircling them in a system parameter space. However, subsequent theoretical and experimental works have revealed that dynamical encirclement of EPs invariably results in asymmetric mode conversion; namely, the mode switching depends only on the winding direction but not on the initial state. This chirality arises from the failure of adiabaticity due to the complex spectrum of non-Hermitian systems. Although the chirality revealed has undoubtedly made a significant impact in the field, a realization of the originally sought symmetric adiabatic passage in non-Hermitian systems with EPs has since been elusive. In this work, we bridge this gap and theoretically demonstrate that adiabaticity, and therefore a symmetric state transfer, is achievable when dynamically winding around an EP. This becomes feasible by specifically choosing a trajectory in the system parameter space along which the corresponding evolution operator attains a real spectrum. Our findings, thus, offer a promise for advancing various wave manipulation protocols in both quantum and classical domains.