Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions

The non-Hermitian skin effect characterized by a proliferation of exponentially localized edge modes in open-boundary systems has led to the discovery of numerous novel physical phenomena that challenge the limits of conventional band theory. In sharp contrast to this familiar exponential localizati...

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Main Authors: Kai Zhang, Chang Shu, Kai Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-08-01
Series:Physical Review X
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/cwwd-bclc
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author Kai Zhang
Chang Shu
Kai Sun
author_facet Kai Zhang
Chang Shu
Kai Sun
author_sort Kai Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The non-Hermitian skin effect characterized by a proliferation of exponentially localized edge modes in open-boundary systems has led to the discovery of numerous novel physical phenomena that challenge the limits of conventional band theory. In sharp contrast to this familiar exponential localization, we report a distinct phenomenon—the algebraic non-Hermitian skin effect—which arises generically in non-Hermitian systems with two or more spatial dimensions. In such cases, the amplitude of skin modes typically decays from the boundary following a power law, rather than an exponential form—a behavior not captured by existing theoretical frameworks. To bridge this gap and describe the transition in localization from one to higher dimensions, we develop a generalized Fermi surface framework applicable to open-boundary systems in arbitrary dimensions. This framework not only reproduces known results for the exponential skin effect in 1D, but also predicts a new class of skin effects with algebraic decay in 2D and above. We demonstrate this framework in both tight-binding and continuum models in two and three dimensions. This investigation not only unveils a novel category of the non-Hermitian skin effect but also offers a comprehensive theoretical structure that describes skin effects in any non-Hermitian system, irrespective of its spatial dimensionality.
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spelling doaj-art-5c58ac17443246b9bdbe7dca19ff68612025-08-20T03:41:39ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review X2160-33082025-08-0115303103910.1103/cwwd-bclcAlgebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary DimensionsKai ZhangChang ShuKai SunThe non-Hermitian skin effect characterized by a proliferation of exponentially localized edge modes in open-boundary systems has led to the discovery of numerous novel physical phenomena that challenge the limits of conventional band theory. In sharp contrast to this familiar exponential localization, we report a distinct phenomenon—the algebraic non-Hermitian skin effect—which arises generically in non-Hermitian systems with two or more spatial dimensions. In such cases, the amplitude of skin modes typically decays from the boundary following a power law, rather than an exponential form—a behavior not captured by existing theoretical frameworks. To bridge this gap and describe the transition in localization from one to higher dimensions, we develop a generalized Fermi surface framework applicable to open-boundary systems in arbitrary dimensions. This framework not only reproduces known results for the exponential skin effect in 1D, but also predicts a new class of skin effects with algebraic decay in 2D and above. We demonstrate this framework in both tight-binding and continuum models in two and three dimensions. This investigation not only unveils a novel category of the non-Hermitian skin effect but also offers a comprehensive theoretical structure that describes skin effects in any non-Hermitian system, irrespective of its spatial dimensionality.http://doi.org/10.1103/cwwd-bclc
spellingShingle Kai Zhang
Chang Shu
Kai Sun
Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions
Physical Review X
title Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions
title_full Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions
title_fullStr Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions
title_full_unstemmed Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions
title_short Algebraic Non-Hermitian Skin Effect and Generalized Fermi Surface Formula in Arbitrary Dimensions
title_sort algebraic non hermitian skin effect and generalized fermi surface formula in arbitrary dimensions
url http://doi.org/10.1103/cwwd-bclc
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AT changshu algebraicnonhermitianskineffectandgeneralizedfermisurfaceformulainarbitrarydimensions
AT kaisun algebraicnonhermitianskineffectandgeneralizedfermisurfaceformulainarbitrarydimensions