Exceptional topological insulators

M. Michael Denner (), Anastasiia Skurativska, Frank Schindler, Mark H. Fischer, Ronny Thomale, Tomáš Bzdušek and Titus Neupert
Additional contact information
M. Michael Denner: University of Zurich
Anastasiia Skurativska: University of Zurich
Frank Schindler: University of Zurich
Mark H. Fischer: University of Zurich
Ronny Thomale: Universität Würzburg
Tomáš Bzdušek: University of Zurich
Titus Neupert: University of Zurich

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract We introduce the exceptional topological insulator (ETI), a non-Hermitian topological state of matter that features exotic non-Hermitian surface states which can only exist within the three-dimensional topological bulk embedding. We show how this phase can evolve from a Weyl semimetal or Hermitian three-dimensional topological insulator close to criticality when quasiparticles acquire a finite lifetime. The ETI does not require any symmetry to be stabilized. It is characterized by a bulk energy point gap, and exhibits robust surface states that cover the bulk gap as a single sheet of complex eigenvalues or with a single exceptional point. The ETI can be induced universally in gapless solid-state systems, thereby setting a paradigm for non-Hermitian topological matter.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25947-z

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