Observation of emergent momentum–time skyrmions in parity–time-symmetric non-unitary quench dynamics

Kunkun Wang, Xingze Qiu, Lei Xiao, Xiang Zhan, Zhihao Bian, Barry C. Sanders, Wei Yi () and Peng Xue ()
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Kunkun Wang: Beijing Computational Science Research Center
Xingze Qiu: University of Science and Technology of China
Lei Xiao: Beijing Computational Science Research Center
Xiang Zhan: Beijing Computational Science Research Center
Zhihao Bian: Beijing Computational Science Research Center
Barry C. Sanders: University of Calgary
Wei Yi: University of Science and Technology of China
Peng Xue: Beijing Computational Science Research Center

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Topology in quench dynamics gives rise to intriguing dynamic topological phenomena, which are intimately connected to the topology of static Hamiltonians yet challenging to probe experimentally. Here we theoretically characterize and experimentally detect momentum-time skyrmions in parity-time $$({\cal{P}}{\cal{T}})$$ ( P T ) -symmetric non-unitary quench dynamics in single-photon discrete-time quantum walks. The emergent skyrmion structures are protected by dynamic Chern numbers defined for the emergent two-dimensional momentum-time submanifolds, and are revealed through our experimental scheme enabling the construction of time-dependent non-Hermitian density matrices via direct measurements in position space. Our work experimentally reveals the interplay of $${\cal{P}}{\cal{T}}$$ P T symmetry and quench dynamics in inducing emergent topological structures, and highlights the application of discrete-time quantum walks for the study of dynamic topological phenomena.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10252-7

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