Anomalous hybridization of spectral winding topology in quantized steady-state responses

The quantized response is one distinguishing feature of a topological system. In non-Hermitian systems, the spectral winding topology yields a quantized steady-state response. By considering two weakly coupled non -Hermitian chains, we discover that the spectral winding topology of one chain can be probed by a steady-state response defined solely on the other chain, even when other important properties, e.g., energetics and entanglement entropy, indicate that eigensolutions are effectively not hybridized between the two chains. This intriguing phenomenon, as carefully investigated in a large parameter space with a varying system size, not only offers a different angle to understand interchain signal propagation in a non-Hermitian setting but also reveals unexpected physics of spectral winding topology vs quantized response.

Automated summary

The quantized response is a distinguishing feature of a topological system. In non-Hermitian systems, the spectral winding topology yields a quantized steady-state response. By considering two weakly coupled non-Hermitian chains, the spectral winding topology of one chain can be probed by a steady-state response defined solely on the other chain, revealing unexpected physics of spectral winding topology vs quantized response.