Zero Energy Modes with Gaussian, Exponential, or Polynomial Decay: Exact Solutions in Hermitian and non-Hermitian Regimes

Abstract Topological zero modes in topological insulators or superconductors are exponentially localized at the phase transition between a topologically trivial and a topologically nontrivial phase. These modes are solutions of a Jackiw–Rebbi equation modified with an additional term which is quadratic in the momentum. Moreover, localized fermionic modes can also be induced by harmonic potentials in superfluids and superconductors or in atomic nuclei. Here, by using inverse methods, we consider in the same framework exponentially localized zero modes, as well as Gaussian modes induced by harmonic potentials (with superexponential decay) and polynomially decaying modes (with subexponential decay), and derive the explicit and analytical form of the modified Jackiw–Rebbi equation (and of the Schrödinger equation) which admits these modes as solutions. We find that the asymptotic behavior of the mass term is crucial in determining the decay properties of the modes. Furthermore, these considerations naturally extend to the non-Hermitian regime. These findings allow us to classify and understand topological and nontopological boundary modes in topological insulators and superconductors.