Observation of Weyl exceptional rings in thermal diffusion

Area of Science:

• Non-Hermitian physics
• Thermal diffusion
• Topological systems

Background:

• Thermal diffusion is dissipative and linked to non-Hermitian physics.
• Non-Hermitian Weyl systems are significant in photonics and acoustics.
• The existence of Weyl exceptional rings (WER) in thermal diffusion was previously unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the possibility of Weyl exceptional rings (WER) in thermal diffusion systems.
• To challenge the perception that thermal diffusion prohibits topological properties.
• To explore the application of synthetic dimensions in thermal diffusive systems.

Main Methods:

• Imitation of synthetic dimensions using two spatiotemporal advection pairs.
• Achievement of WER in thermal diffusive systems.
• Demonstration of surface-like and bulk states by coupling two WERs with opposite topological charges.

Main Results:

• Successfully achieved a Weyl exceptional ring (WER) in a thermal diffusion system.
• Demonstrated both surface-like and bulk states within the system.
• Extended topological concepts to diffusion and dissipative phenomena.

Conclusions:

• Weyl exceptional rings (WER) can exist in thermal diffusive systems.
• Synthetic dimensions can be utilized to achieve topological phenomena in dissipative systems.
• Findings motivate further research into non-Hermitian diffusive and dissipative control.