We show how to define a dynamical topological invariant for one-dimensional two-band topological systems after a quantum quench. By analyzing general two-band models of topological insulators, we demonstrate that the reduced momentum-time manifold can be viewed as a series of submanifolds
S2, and thus we are able to define a dynamical topological invariant on each of the spheres. We also unveil the intrinsic relation between the dynamical topological invariant and the difference in the topological invariant of the initial and final static Hamiltonian. By considering some concrete examples, we illustrate the calculation of the dynamical topological invariant and its geometrical meaning explicitly.
Hopf insulators are exotic topological states of matter outside the standard tenfold-way classification based on discrete symmetries. Its topology is captured by an integer invariant that describes the linking structures of the Hamiltonian in the three-dimensional momentum space. In this paper, we investigate the quantum dynamics of Hopf insulators across a sudden quench and show that the quench dynamics is characterized by a
Z2 invariant $\ensuremath{\nu}$ which reveals a rich interplay between quantum quench and static band topology. We construct the
Z2 topological invariant using the loop unitary operator and prove that $\ensuremath{\nu}$ relates the pre- and postquench Hopf invariants through $\ensuremath{\nu}=(\mathcal{L}\ensuremath{-}{\mathcal{L}}_{0})\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}mod\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}2$. The
Z2 nature of the dynamical invariant is in sharp contrast to the
Z invariant for the quench dynamics of Chern insulators in two dimensions. The nontrivial dynamical topology is further attributed to the emergence of $\ensuremath{\pi}$ defects in the phase band of the loop unitary. These $\ensuremath{\pi}$ defects are generally closed curves in the momentum-time space, for example, as nodal rings carrying Hopf charge.
In this review, we discuss the recent progress on the study of dynamic topological phenomena in quench dynamics. In particular, we focus on dynamic quantum phase transition and dynamic topological invariant, both of which are hinged upon the existence of fixed points in the dynamics. Further, the existence of these fixed points are topologically protected, in the sense that their existence are closely related to static topological invariants of pre- and post-quench Hamiltonians. We also discuss under what condition these dynamic topological phenomena are robust in non-unitary quench dynamics governed by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. So far, dynamic topological phenomena have been experimentally observed in synthetic systems such as cold atomic gases, superconducting qubits, and linear optics. These studies extend our understanding of topological matter to the non-equilibrium regime.