arXiv · 2408.07355
Non-Hermitian Quantum Fractals
Abstract
The first quantum fractal discovered in physics is the Hofstadter butterfly. It stems from large external magnetic fields. We discover instead a new class of non-Hermitian quantum fractals (NHQFs) emerging in coupled Hatano-Nelson models on a tree lattice in absence of any fields. Based on analytic solutions, we are able to rigorously identify the self-similar recursive structures in energy spectrum and wave functions. We prove that the complex spectrum of NHQFs bears a resemblance to the Mandelbrot set in fractal theory. The self-similarity of NHQFs is rooted in the interplay between the iterative lattice configuration and non-Hermiticity. Moreover, we show that NHQFs exist in generalized non-Hermitian systems with iterative lattice structures. Our findings open a new avenue for investigating quantum fractals in non-Hermitian systems.
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Junsong Sun, Chang-An Li, Qingyang Guo, Weixuan Zhang, Shiping Feng, Xiangdong Zhang, Huaiming Guo, Björn Trauzettel. 2024-08-14. Non-Hermitian Quantum Fractals. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.110.l201103
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