Qi-Bo Zeng

Bio: Qi-Bo Zeng is an academic researcher from Tsinghua University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Physics & Anderson localization. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 19 publications receiving 389 citations. Previous affiliations of Qi-Bo Zeng include Capital Normal University.

Topological phases in non-Hermitian Aubry-André-Harper models

Abstract: Topological phases have recently witnessed rapid progress in non-Hermitian systems. Here we study a one-dimensional non-Hermitian Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper (AAH) model with imaginary periodic or quasiperiodic modulations. We demonstrate that the non-Hermitian off-diagonal AAH models can host zero-energy modes at the edges. In contrast to the Hermitian case, the zero-energy mode can be localized only at one edge. Such a topological phase corresponds to the existence of a quarter winding number defined by eigenenergy in momentum space. We further find the coexistence of a zero-energy mode located only at one edge and topological nonzero-energy edge modes characterized by a generalized Bott index. In the incommensurate case, a topological non-Hermitian quasicrystal is predicted where all bulk states and two topological edge states are localized at one edge. Such topological edge modes are protected by the generalized Bott index. Finally, we propose an experimental scheme to realize these non-Hermitian models in electric circuits. Our findings add another direction for exploring topological properties in Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper models.

Winding numbers and generalized mobility edges in non-Hermitian systems

Abstract: This paper presents a self-dual symmetry which determines the Anderson localization in non-Hermitian quasiperiodic lattices. The authors show that the mobility edges in non-Hermitian quasiperiodic systems are of topological nature, due to the energy spectra for the extended states and localized states displaying different structures

Anderson localization in the Non-Hermitian Aubry-André-Harper model with physical gain and loss

Abstract: We investigate the Anderson localization in non-Hermitian Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper (AAH) models with imaginary potentials added to lattice sites to represent the physical gain and loss during the interacting processes between the system and environment. By checking the mean inverse participation ratio (MIPR) of the system, we find that different configurations of physical gain and loss have very different impacts on the localization phase transition in the system. In the case with balanced physical gain and loss added in an alternate way to the lattice sites, the critical region (in the case with $p$-wave superconducting pairing) and the critical value (both in the situations with and without $p$-wave pairing) for the Anderson localization phase transition will be significantly reduced, which implies an enhancement of the localization process. However, if the system is divided into two parts with one of them coupled to physical gain and the other coupled to the corresponding physical loss, the transition process will be impacted only in a very mild way. Besides, we also discuss the situations with imbalanced physical gain and loss and find that the existence of random imaginary potentials in the system will also affect the localization process while constant imaginary potentials will not.

Higher-order topological insulators and semimetals in generalized Aubry-André-Harper models

Abstract: Higher-order topological phases of matter have been extensively studied in various areas of physics. While the Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper model provides a paradigmatic example to study topological phases, it has not been explored whether a generalized Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper model can exhibit a higher-order topological phenomenon. Here, we construct a two-dimensional higher-order topological insulator with chiral symmetry based on the Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper model. We find the coexistence of zero-energy and nonzero-energy corner-localized modes. The former is protected by the quantized quadrupole moment, while the latter by the first Chern number of the Wannier band. The nonzero-energy mode can also be viewed as the consequence of a Chern insulator localized on a surface. More interestingly, the nonzero-energy corner mode can lie in the continuum of extended bulk states and form a bound state in the continuum of higher-order topological systems. We finally propose an experimental scheme to realize our model in electric circuits. Our study opens a door to further study higher-order topological phases based on the Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper model.

Generalized Aubry-André-Harper model with p -wave superconducting pairing

Abstract: We investigate a generalized Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper (AAH) model with $p$-wave superconducting pairing. Both the hopping amplitudes between the nearest-neighboring lattice sites and the on-site potentials in this system are modulated by a cosine function with a periodicity of $1/\ensuremath{\alpha}$. In the incommensurate case $[\ensuremath{\alpha}=\left(\sqrt{5}\ensuremath{-}1\right)/2]$, due to the modulations on the hopping amplitudes, the critical region of this quasiperiodic system is significantly reduced and the system becomes easier to be turned from extended states to localized states. In the commensurate case $(\ensuremath{\alpha}=1/2)$, we find that this model shows three different phases when we tune the system parameters: Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH)-like trivial, SSH-like topological, and Kitaev-like topological phases. The phase diagrams and the topological quantum numbers for these phases are presented in this work. This generalized AAH model combined with superconducting pairing provides us with a useful test field for studying the phase transitions from extended states to Anderson localized states and the transitions between different topological phases.

Observation of Majorana fermions in ferromagnetic atomic chains on a superconductor

Abstract: A possible sighting of Majorana states Nearly 80 years ago, the Italian physicist Ettore Majorana proposed the existence of an unusual type of particle that is its own antiparticle, the so-called Majorana fermion. The search for a free Majorana fermion has so far been unsuccessful, but bound Majorana-like collective excitations may exist in certain exotic superconductors. Nadj-Perge et al. created such a topological superconductor by depositing iron atoms onto the surface of superconducting lead, forming atomic chains (see the Perspective by Lee). They then used a scanning tunneling microscope to observe enhanced conductance at the ends of these chains at zero energy, where theory predicts Majorana states should appear. Science, this issue p. 602; see also p. 547 Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to observe signatures of Majorana states at the ends of iron atom chains. [Also see Perspective by Lee] Majorana fermions are predicted to localize at the edge of a topological superconductor, a state of matter that can form when a ferromagnetic system is placed in proximity to a conventional superconductor with strong spin-orbit interaction. With the goal of realizing a one-dimensional topological superconductor, we have fabricated ferromagnetic iron (Fe) atomic chains on the surface of superconducting lead (Pb). Using high-resolution spectroscopic imaging techniques, we show that the onset of superconductivity, which gaps the electronic density of states in the bulk of the Fe chains, is accompanied by the appearance of zero-energy end-states. This spatially resolved signature provides strong evidence, corroborated by other observations, for the formation of a topological phase and edge-bound Majorana fermions in our atomic chains.

Topological Origin of Non-Hermitian Skin Effects.

Abstract: A unique feature of non-Hermitian systems is the skin effect, which is the extreme sensitivity to the boundary conditions. Here, we reveal that the skin effect originates from intrinsic non-Hermitian topology. Such a topological origin not merely explains the universal feature of the known skin effect, but also leads to new types of the skin effects---symmetry-protected skin effects. In particular, we discover the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ skin effect protected by time-reversal symmetry. On the basis of topological classification, we also discuss possible other skin effects in arbitrary dimensions. Our work provides a unified understanding about the bulk-boundary correspondence and the skin effects in non-Hermitian systems.

Non-Bloch Band Theory of Non-Hermitian Systems.

Abstract: In spatially periodic Hermitian systems, such as electronic systems in crystals, the band structure is described by the band theory in terms of the Bloch wave functions, which reproduce energy levels for large systems with open boundaries. In this paper, we establish a generalized Bloch band theory in one-dimensional spatially periodic tight-binding models. We show how to define the Brillouin zone in non-Hermitian systems. From this Brillouin zone, one can calculate continuum bands, which reproduce the band structure in an open chain. As an example, we apply our theory to the non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. We also show the bulk-edge correspondence between the winding number and existence of the topological edge states.