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Universal Critical Behaviours in Non-Hermitian Phase Transitions
1School of Physics and Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China. bbwei@szu.edu.cn.
Scientific Reports
|August 4, 2017
Summary
Density functional theory reveals universal behaviors in non-Hermitian quantum phase transitions and entanglement. This work connects steady-state energy derivatives to critical phenomena in these complex quantum systems.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Many-Body Physics
- Non-Hermitian Systems
- Condensed Matter Theory
Background:
- Quantum phase transitions (QPTs) are fundamental phenomena in quantum many-body systems.
- Non-Hermitian systems exhibit unique behaviors, including QPTs, but universal descriptions remain challenging.
- Understanding critical phenomena and entanglement in non-Hermitian systems is crucial for advancing quantum physics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate, for the first time, that density functional theory (DFT) can uncover universal critical behaviors in non-Hermitian quantum many-body systems.
- To establish a theoretical framework connecting steady-state energy properties to quantum phase transitions and entanglement in non-Hermitian systems.
- To predict universal scaling laws for physical observables and quantum entanglement at non-Hermitian phase transition points.
Main Methods:
- Utilized density functional theory (DFT) to analyze non-Hermitian quantum many-body systems.
- Proved that the non-degenerate steady state is a universal function of the first derivative of steady-state energy with respect to a control parameter.
- Derived scaling exponents for physical observables and quantum entanglement based on the number of coalesced states at exceptional points.
Main Results:
- Established a direct link between non-analytic behavior in physical observables and steady-state energy, explaining QPTs in finite non-Hermitian systems.
- Predicted universal scaling behaviors for physical observables at non-Hermitian phase transition points with a scaling exponent of (1 - 1/p).
- Revealed universal scaling behaviors for quantum entanglement at non-Hermitian phase transition points, with critical exponents also given by (1 - 1/p).
Conclusions:
- DFT successfully uncovers universal critical behaviors in non-Hermitian quantum phase transitions and entanglement.
- The findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding QPTs and entanglement in non-Hermitian systems.
- This work offers profound connections between quantum entanglement and phase transitions in the realm of non-Hermitian quantum many-body physics.
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