Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by demonstrating the first experimental observation of non-Hermitian edge burst in quantum dynamics using a photonic quantum walk setup. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding real-world systems characterized by dissipation, interactions with the environment, or gain-and-loss mechanisms.
The researchers focused on a non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), where a system exhibits unique behavior at the edges or boundaries. They used a one-dimensional quantum walk with photons to investigate real-time edge dynamics in non-Hermitian systems. The setup featured a boundary or wall, segmenting the system into two regions with different rules for the quantum walk.
The team detected an increase in the probability of photon loss at the boundary, confirming the existence of the non-Hermitian edge burst. However, this phenomenon only occurs when two conditions are simultaneously met: the presence of NHSE and a closed imaginary gap in the energy spectrum.
The researchers found that the initial position of the photons plays a role in the edge burst becoming pronounced. The probability of losing a photon at the boundary wall is reduced when the photon begins further from the boundary, compared to when it starts near it.
This experimental observation reveals a novel interplay between topological physics and dynamical phenomena, opening new avenues for research in this field. The findings have implications for practical applications, such as harvesting light or particles at precise locations, with potential applications in photonics and other wave-based fields.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-experimental-evidence-hermitian-edge.html