Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are generally sensitive to boundary conditions, and their spectra and wave functions under open boundary conditions are not necessarily predicted by the Bloch band theory for periodic boundary conditions. To elucidate such a non-Bloch feature, recent works have developed a non-Bloch band theory that works even under arbitrary boundary conditions. Here, it is demonstrated that the standard non-Bloch band theory breaks down in the symplectic class, in which non-Hermitian Hamiltonians exhibit Kramers degeneracy because of reciprocity. Instead, a modified non-Bloch band theory for the symplectic class is developed in a general manner, as well as illustrative examples. This nonstandard non-Bloch band theory underlies the ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ non-Hermitian skin effect protected by reciprocity.

• Received 17 March 2020
• Accepted 8 May 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.101.195147