Inhomogeneous SSH models and the doubling of orthogonal polynomials
We analyze Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) models using the doubling method for orthogonal polynomial sequences. This approach yields the analytical spectrum and exact eigenstates of the models. We demonstrate that the standard SSH model is associated with the doubling of Chebyshev polynomials. Extending this technique to the doubling of other finite sequences enables the construction of Hamiltonians for inhomogeneous SSH models which are exactly solvable. We detail the specific cases associated with Krawtchouk and q <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> <mml:mi>q</mml:mi> </mml:math> -Racah polynomials. This work highlights the utility of polynomial-doubling techniques in obtaining exact solutions for physical models.
Authors
- Lucía Morey
- Gilles Parez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5440-9467)
- Nicolas Crampé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3754-4074)
- Luc Vinet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0133-2563)
- Quentin Labriet
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Laboratoire d'Annecy de Physique Théorique (FR)
- Institute for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage (SM)
- Université de Montréal (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- SciPost Physics
- Published
- 2026-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.21468/scipostphys.20.5.124
- Primary Topic
- Mathematical functions and polynomials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada