Simulation and detection of the topological properties of a modulated Rice-Mele model in a one-dimensional circuit-QED lattice

Here, we propose a simple scheme to realize a one-dimensional (1D) modulated Rice-Mele model (RMM) and investigate its topological properties with a 1D circuit quantum electrodynamics (QED) lattice. The system can be mapped into a Chern insulator model by introducing a period parameter. Interestingly and surprisingly, we found that the circuit-QED lattice system always exhibits topologically nontrivial phases if both the nearest-neighbor hopping strength between two resonators and the qubit-assisted on-site potentials are alternately changed in the direction of the lattice. The numerical results show that the topological phases can be obtained by introducing an additional modulation parameter and both the edge state and topological invariant can be unambiguously seen with the existence of decay and disorders, even with few resonators in the lattice.     

自旋轨道耦合Su-Schrieffer-Heeger原子链系统的电子输运特性

在Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH)原子链中,电子在胞内和胞间的跳跃依赖于其自旋时,即SSH原子链存在自旋轨道耦合作用时,存在不同缠绕数的非平庸拓扑边缘态.如何探测自旋轨道耦合SSH原子链不同缠绕数的边缘态是一个重要问题.本文在紧束缚近似下研究了自旋轨道耦合SSH原子链的非平庸拓扑边缘态性质及其零能附近的电子输运特性.研究发现四重和二重简并边缘态的缠绕数分别为2和1;并且仅当源极入射电子的自旋被极化(铁磁电极)时,自旋轨道耦合SSH原子链在零能附近的电子输运特性才能反映其边缘态的能谱特性.尤其是,随着自旋轨道耦合SSH原子链与左、右导线之间的耦合强度由弱到强改变,对于缠绕数为2的四重简并边缘态,入射电子在零能附近的透射峰数目将从4个变为0;而对于缠绕数为1的二重简并边缘态情形,其透射峰数目将从2个变为0.因此,在源极为铁磁电极的情形下,通过观察自旋轨道耦合SSH原子链在零能附近电子共振透射峰的数目随着其与左、右导线之间耦合强度的变化,来探测其不同缠绕数的边缘态.上述结果为基于电子输运特性探测自旋轨道耦合SSH原子链不同拓扑性质的边缘态提供了一种可选择的理论方案.     

Quantum transport signatures of non-trivial topological edge states in a ring-shaped Su–Schrieffer–Heeger double-chain system

In the ring-shaped Su–Schrieffer–Heeger(SSH)double-chain,the quantum interference between the two different electron tunneling paths of the upper and lower chains has an important influence on the electron transport properties of non-trivial topological edge states.Here,we have studied the electron transport signatures of non-trivial topological edge states in a ring-shaped SSH double-chain system based on the wave-guide theory and transfer-matrix method.In the ringshaped SSH double-chain with the upper chain being different from the lower one,it is demonstrated that the electron transmission probability displays the four and two resonance peaks associated with the non-trivial topological edge states in the weak and strong coupling regimes,respectively.Whereas in the case of the upper chain being the same as the lower one,the two transmission resonance peaks associated with the non-trivial topological edge states in the weak coupling regime are only found,and that in the strong coupling regime disappear that originated from the destructive interference between the two different electron tunneling paths of the upper and lower chains.Consequently,the variation of the number of transmission resonance peaks associated with the non-trivial topological edge states in the weak and strong coupling regimes suggests that an alternative scheme for detecting non-trivial topological edge states in the ring-shaped SSH doublechain system.     

Dissipation-induced topological phase transition and periodic-driving-induced photonic topological state transfer in a small optomechanical lattice

We propose a scheme to investigate the topological phase transition and the topological state transfer based on the small optomechanical lattice under the realistic parameters regime.We find that the optomechanical lattice can be equivalent to a topologically nontrivial Su-Schrieffer Heeger(SSH)model via designing the effective optomechanical coupling.Especially,the optomechanical lattice experiences the phase transition between topologically nontrivial SSH phase and topologically trivial SSH phase by controlling the decay of the cavity field and the opto mechanical coupling.We stress that the to pological phase transition is mainly induced by the decay of the cavity field,which is counter-intuitive since the dissipation is usually detrimental to the system.Also,we investigate the photonic state transfer between the two cavity fields via the topologically protected edge channel based on the small optomechanical lattice.We find that the quantum st ate transfer assisted by the topological zero energy mode can be achieved via implying the external lasers with the periodical driving amplitudes into the cavity fields.Our scheme provides the fundamental and the insightful explanations towards the mapping of the photonic topological insulator based on the micro-nano optomechanical quantum optical platform.     

Topological phase transition in anisotropic square-octagon lattice with spin–orbit coupling and exchange field

We investigate the topological phase transitions in an anisotropic square-octagon lattice in the presence of spin–orbit coupling and exchange field. On the basis of the Chern number and spin Chern number, we find a number of topologically distinct phases with tuning the exchange field, including time-reversal-symmetry-broken quantum spin Hall phases, quantum anomalous Hall phases and a topologically trivial phase. Particularly, we observe a coexistent state of both the quantum spin Hall effect and quantum anomalous Hall effect. Besides, by adjusting the exchange filed, we find the phase transition from time-reversal-symmetry-broken quantum spin Hall phase to spin-imbalanced and spin-polarized quantum anomalous Hall phases, providing an opportunity for quantum spin manipulation. The bulk band gap closes when topological phase transitions occur between different topological phases. Furthermore, the energy and spin spectra of the edge states corresponding to different topological phases are consistent with the topological characterization based on the Chern and spin Chern numbers.     

Topological Phase Transition of Non-Hermitian Crosslinked Chain

The contents of topological classification of matter are enriched by non-Hermiticity, such as exceptional points, bulk-edge correspondence, and skin effects. Physically, gain and loss can be introduced by imaginary on-site potentials of lattice Hamiltonians, and the topological phase transition for a cross-linked chain in the presence of such non-Hermiticity is investigated. The topological phase diagram in terms of a winding number is obtained analytically with phase boundaries coinciding with the surfaces of exceptional points. The topologically original edge states with distribution mainly at the joints between domains of different phases are protected even for long chains. The non-Hermitian topological feature can also be reflected by vortex structures in the vector fields of complex eigenenergies, expected values of Pauli matrices, and trajectories of these quantities. This model may be implemented in coupled photonic crystals, fermions trapped in optical lattice, or non-Hermitian electrical-circuit lattices, and the edge states are immune to various kinds of disorders until topological phase transition occurs. This work gives insight into the influence of non-Hermiticity on topological phase of matter.     

Topological Phase Transition with Larger Winding Number in the Non-Hermitian Dimerized Lattice

The topological phase transitions among normal insulator phase, two kinds of topological insulator phases, and topological semimetal phase are shown based on the non-Hermitian dimerized Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model with the nonreciprocal intercell and long-range hopping. In contrast to the previous work, it is found that the topological insulator phase in the present SSH model can hold the larger non-Bloch winding number accompanied by exceptional winding of the generalized Brillouin zone around the gap-closing points. Compared with the usual topological insulator phase in non-Hermitian SSH model, the topological insulator with the larger winding number owns two pairs of zero energy modes with a distinct form of edge localization in the gap. The physical mechanism of the distinct edge localization for zero energy modes via a equivalent Hermitian version of the non-Hermitian SSH model is revealed. Additionally, the process of the phase transition is visualized among normal insulator phase, topological insulator phases, and topological semimetal phase in detail via the evolution of the gap-closing points on the plane of generalized Brillouin zone. This work further verifies the non-Bloch theory and enrich the investigation about the topologically nontrivial phase with the larger topological invariant in the non-Hermitian SSH model.     

Rashba自旋轨道耦合下square-octagon晶格的拓扑相变

本文研究了各向同性square-octagon晶格在内禀自旋轨道耦合、Rashba自旋轨道耦合和交换场作用下的拓扑相变,同时引入陈数和自旋陈数对系统进行拓扑分类.系统在自旋轨道耦合和交换场的影响下会出现许多拓扑非平庸态,包括时间反演对称破缺的量子自旋霍尔态和量子反常霍尔态.特别的是,在时间反演对称破缺的量子自旋霍尔效应中,无能隙螺旋边缘态依然能够完好存在.调节交换场或者填充因子的大小会导致系统发生从时间反演对称破缺的量子自旋霍尔态到自旋过滤的量子反常霍尔态的拓扑相变.边缘态能谱和自旋谱的性质与陈数和自旋陈数的拓扑刻画完全一致.这些研究成果为自旋量子操控提供了一个有趣的途径.     

Topological phases and type-II edge state in two-leg-coupled Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chains

Topological quantum states have attracted great attention both theoretically and experimentally.Here,we show that the momentum-space lattice allows us to couple two Su-Schrieffer-Heeger(SSH)chains with opposite dimerizations and staggered interleg hoppings.The coupled SSH chain is a four-band model which has sublattice symmetry similar to the SSH4.Interestingly,the topological edge states occupy two sublattices at the same time,which can be regarded as a one-dimension analogue of the type-II corner state.The analytical expressions of the edge states are also obtained by solving the eigenequations.Finally,we provide a possible experimental scheme to detect the topological winding number and corresponding edge states.     

Pseudo topological insulators

We predict pseudo topological insulators that have been previously overlooked. We determine some conditions under which robust pseudo topological edge states appear and illustrate our idea on the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model with extra chiral symmetry breaking potentials. We discuss that pseudo topological insulating phase transition occurs without band gap closing.     

三聚化非厄密晶格中具有趋肤效应的拓扑边缘态

近年来,探索新的拓扑量子结构、深入分析各种多聚化拓扑晶格中的新奇物理性质已经成为热点.并且,多聚化拓扑模型在量子光学等领域的研究也愈发深入,拥有广阔的发展前景.本文聚焦于研究三聚化非厄密晶格中的新奇拓扑特性.首先,若晶胞内最近邻正反向耦合不相等,三聚化模型中的体态和边缘态出现趋肤效应.其中,随着最近邻耦合正反系数差的增大,拓扑保护的边缘态的宽度和简并度均可被调制,边缘态数量也会减少.其次,当在考虑次近邻耦合的影响时,随着次近邻耦合系数在适当范围内变化,系统本征能谱的上下能隙及其中具有趋肤效应的边缘态也会发生不对称的变化.此外,当适当改变两种耦合系数,三聚化非厄密模型的体态和边缘态的局域程度也会随之发生变化.     

时间反演对称性破缺系统中的拓扑零能模

Su-Schreiffer-Heeger模型预测了在一维周期晶格的边缘处可能出现零维的拓扑零能模,其能量本征值总是出现在能隙的正中间.本文以半导体微腔阵列中光子和激子在强耦合情况下形成的准粒子为例,通过准粒子的自旋轨道耦合与Zeeman效应,研究了时间反演对称性破缺对拓扑零能模的影响.发现拓扑零能模的能量本征值可以随着自旋轨道耦合强度的变化在整个带隙内移动,自旋相反的模式移动方向相反;在二维微腔阵列中发现了沿着晶格边缘移动的拓扑零能模,提出了一维零能模的概念.由于时间反演对称性的破缺,这种一维拓扑零能模解除了在相反传输方向上的能级的简并,从而在传输过程中出现极强的绕过障碍物的能力.     

Change-over switch for quantum states transfer with topological channels in a circuit-QED lattice

We propose schemes to realize robust quantum states transfer between distant resonators using the topological edge states of a one-dimensional circuit quantum electrodynamics(QED)lattice.Analyses show that the distribution of edge states can be regulated accordingly with the on-site defects added on the resonators.And we can achieve different types of quantum state transfer without adjusting the number of lattices.Numerical simulations demonstrate that the on-site defects can be used as a change-over switch for high-fidelity single-qubit and two-qubit quantum states transfer.This work provides a viable prospect for flexible quantum state transfer in solid-state topological quantum system.     

Fast topological pumping for the generation of large-scale Greenberger−Horne−Zeilinger states in a superconducting circuit

Topological pumping of edge states in the finite lattice with nontrivial topological phases provides a powerful means for robust excitation transfer, requiring extremely slow evolution to follow an adiabatic transfer. Here, we propose fast topological pumping via edge channels to generate large-scale Greenberger−Horne−Zeilinger (GHZ) states in a topological superconducting circuit with a sped-up evolution process. The scheme indicates a conceptual way of designing fast topological pumping related to the instantaneous energy spectrum characteristics rather than relying on the shortcuts to adiabaticity. Based on fast topological pumping, large-scale GHZ states show greater robustness against on-site potential defects, the fluctuation of couplings and losses of the system in comparison with the conventional adiabatic topological pumping. With experimentally feasible qutrit-resonator coupling strengths and moderate decay rates of qutrits and resonators, fast topological pumping drastically improves the scalability of GHZ states with a high fidelity. Our work opens up prospects for the realization of large-scale GHZ states based on fast topological pumping in the superconducting quantum circuit system, which provides potential applications of topological matters in quantum information processing.     

Quantum Probing Topological Phase Transitions by Non‐Markovianity

Understanding the physical significance and probing the global invariants characterizing quantum topological phases in extended systems is a main challenge in modern physics with major impact in different areas of science. Here, a quantum‐information‐inspired probing method is proposed where topological phase transitions are revealed by a non‐Markovianity quantifier. The idea is illustrated by considering the decoherence dynamics of an external read‐out qubit that probes a Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) chain with either pure dephasing or dissipative coupling. Qubit decoherence features and non‐Markovianity measure clearly signal the topological phase transition of the SSH chain.     

Characterization of topological phase of superlattices in superconducting circuits

The recent experimental observation of topological magnon insulator states in a superconducting circuit chain marks a breakthrough for topological physics with qubits, in which a dimerized qubit chain has been realized. Here, we extend such a dimer lattice to superlattice with arbitrary number of qubits in each unit cell in superconducting circuits, which exhibits rich topological properties. Specifically, by considering a quadrimeric superlattice, we show that the topological invariant (winding number) can be effectively characterized by the dynamics of the single-excitation quantum state through time-dependent quantities. Moreover, we explore the appearance and detection of the topological protected edge states in such a multiband qubit system. Finally, we also demonstrate the stable Bloch-like-oscillation of multiple interface states induced by the interference of them. Our proposal can be readily realized in experiment and may pave the way towards the investigation of topological quantum phases and topologically protected quantum information processing.     

Chiral topological phases and fractional domain wall excitations in one-dimensional chains and wires

According to the general classification of topological insulators, there exist one-dimensional chirally (sublattice) symmetric systems that can support any number of topological phases. We introduce a zigzag fermion chain with spin-orbit coupling in magnetic field and identify three distinct topological phases. Zero-mode excitations, localized at the phase boundaries, are fractionalized: two of the phase boundaries support ±e/2 charge states while one of the boundaries support ±e and neutral excitations. In addition, a finite chain exhibits ±e/2 edge states for two of the three phases. We explain how the studied system generalizes the Peierls-distorted polyacetylene model and discuss possible realizations in atomic chains and quantum spin Hall wires.     

超冷原子中拓扑超流的发展现状

拓扑超流态是一种奇异物质态,它的内部受能隙保护,而在其系统边缘却可以容纳无能隙的Majorana 费米子。由于该粒子满足非阿贝尔统计,并且受拓扑保护具有良好的稳定性,用它 们携带量子化的信息,可以用于拓扑量子计算的研究。近年来,理论工作预测了各类系统中可能 存在的拓扑超流态。我们首先介绍了在各类光晶格模型中的拓扑超流, 光晶格的超冷原子具有良 好的可控性与普适性,是实现拓扑超流的理想模型系统。接下来我们介绍了自旋轨道耦合调控下 的拓扑超流,自旋轨道耦合效应是诱导拓扑相的重要条件,并且人们已经在实验上合成了人工自 旋轨道耦合,这为实验上观测拓扑超流取得了突破性的进展。随着近年来实验技术的提高,曾经 难以在实验中观测的,被人们所忽略的拓扑Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) 超流相也 成为了人们研究的热点,因此我们接下来介绍了拓扑的FFLO 超流。此外,我们还介绍了拓扑超 流其他方面的进展,包括孤子引诱的拓扑超流、三组分的拓扑超流、大陈数的拓扑超流以及拓扑 超流临界温度的提高。在实验中,如何检测与实现拓扑超流,是其研究的目的及意义所在,因 此我们在文章的最后介绍了拓扑超流的识别与实现。     

Evolution of edge states and critical phenomena in the Rashba superconductor with magnetization

We study Andreev bound states (ABS) and the resulting charge transport of a Rashba superconductor (RSC) where two-dimensional semiconductor (2DSM) heterostructures are sandwiched by spin-singlet s-wave superconductor and ferromagnet insulator. ABS becomes a chiral Majorana edge mode in the topological phase (TP). We clarify two types of quantum criticality about the topological change of ABS near a quantum critical point (QCP), whether or not ABS exists at QCP. In the former type, ABS has an energy gap and does not cross at zero energy in the nontopological phase. These complex properties can be detected by tunneling conductance between normal metal-RSC junctions.     

Topological phase transition in cavity optomechanical system with periodical modulation

We investigate the topological phase transition and the enhanced topological effect in a cavity optomechanical system with periodical modulation. By calculating the steady-state equations of the system, the steady-state conditions of cavity fields and the restricted conditions of effective optomechanical couplings are demonstrated. It is found that the cavity optomechanical system can be modulated to different topological Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) phases via designing the optomechanical couplings legitimately. Meanwhile, combining the effective optomechanical couplings and the probability distributions of gap states, we reveal the topological phase transition between trivial SSH phase and nontrivial SSH phase via adjusting the decay rates of cavity fields. Moreover, we find that the enhanced topological effect of gap states can be achieved by enlarging the size of system and adjusting the decay rates of cavity fields.