In this paper, we study the topological properties of non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) lattices by periodically introducing onsite imaginary potentials in the manner of ($i{\gamma }_1$, $-i{\gamma }_2$, $-i{\gamma }_1$, $i{\gamma }_2$), where ${\gamma }_1$ and ${\gamma }_2$ are the imaginary-potential strengths. Results show that by changing the lattice to a tetratomic non-Hermitian system, such imaginary potentials induce the nontrivial transition of the topological properties of the SSH system. First, the topologically nontrivial region is extended, followed by the non-Hermitian spontaneous breaking of the anti-$\mathcal{P}T$ symmetry. In addition, a new edge state appears, but its locality is different from the state induced by the Hermitian SSH lattice. If such potentials are strong enough, the bulk states of this system can become purely imaginary states. We believe that these imaginary potentials play special roles in modulating the topological properties of the non-Hermitian SSH lattice.

• Received 6 December 2021
• Revised 6 February 2022
• Accepted 15 March 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.023009

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Published by the American Physical Society