Exceptional point rings and $$\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$$-symmetry in the non-Hermitian XY model

Abstract The XY spin chain is a paradigmatic example of a model solved by free fermions, in which the energy eigenspectrum is built from combinations of quasi-energies. In this article, we show that by extending the XY model’s anisotropy parameter $$\lambda$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:math> to complex values, it is possible for two of the quasi-energies to become degenerate. In the non-Hermitian XY model, these quasi-energy degeneracies give rise to exceptional points (EPs) where eigenvalues and their corresponding eigenvectors coalesce. The distinct $$\lambda$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:math> values at which EPs appear form concentric rings in the complex plane which are shown in the infinite system size limit to converge to the unit circle coinciding with the boundary between distinct topological phases. The non-Hermitian model is also seen to possess a line of broken $$\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>P</mml:mi> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> symmetry along the pure imaginary $$\lambda$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:math> -axis. For finite systems, there are four EP values on this broken $$\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>P</mml:mi> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> -symmetric line if the system size is a multiple of 4.