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Main Authors: Hou, Xu-Yang, Wang, Xin, Guo, Hao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.01908
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author Hou, Xu-Yang
Wang, Xin
Guo, Hao
author_facet Hou, Xu-Yang
Wang, Xin
Guo, Hao
contents Geometric phases play a fundamental role in understanding quantum topology, yet extending the Uhlmann phase to non-Hermitian systems poses significant challenges due to parameter-dependent inner product structures. In this work, we develop a comprehensive theory of the Uhlmann phase for quasi-Hermitian systems, where the physical Hilbert space metric varies with external parameters. By constructing a generalized purification that respects the quasi-Hermitian inner product, we derive the corresponding parallel transport condition and Uhlmann connection. Our analysis reveals that the dynamic metric induces emergent geometric features absent in the standard Hermitian theory. Applying this formalism to solvable two-level models, we uncover rich finite-temperature topological phase diagrams, including multiple transitions between trivial and nontrivial phases driven by thermal fluctuations. Crucially, the quasi-Hermitian parameters are shown to profoundly influence the stability of topological regimes against temperature, enabling nontrivial phases to persist within finite-temperature windows. Furthermore, by extending established interferometric protocols originally developed for Hermitian systems, the geometric amplitude can be recast as a measurable Loschmidt fidelity between purified states, providing a practical and experimentally accessible pathway to investigate quasi-Hermitian mixed-state geometric phases and their finite-temperature transitions. This work establishes a unified framework for understanding mixed-state geometric phases in non-Hermitian quantum systems and opens a practical avenue for their experimental investigation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_01908
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Theory of the Uhlmann Phase in Quasi-Hermitian Quantum Systems
Hou, Xu-Yang
Wang, Xin
Guo, Hao
Quantum Physics
Geometric phases play a fundamental role in understanding quantum topology, yet extending the Uhlmann phase to non-Hermitian systems poses significant challenges due to parameter-dependent inner product structures. In this work, we develop a comprehensive theory of the Uhlmann phase for quasi-Hermitian systems, where the physical Hilbert space metric varies with external parameters. By constructing a generalized purification that respects the quasi-Hermitian inner product, we derive the corresponding parallel transport condition and Uhlmann connection. Our analysis reveals that the dynamic metric induces emergent geometric features absent in the standard Hermitian theory. Applying this formalism to solvable two-level models, we uncover rich finite-temperature topological phase diagrams, including multiple transitions between trivial and nontrivial phases driven by thermal fluctuations. Crucially, the quasi-Hermitian parameters are shown to profoundly influence the stability of topological regimes against temperature, enabling nontrivial phases to persist within finite-temperature windows. Furthermore, by extending established interferometric protocols originally developed for Hermitian systems, the geometric amplitude can be recast as a measurable Loschmidt fidelity between purified states, providing a practical and experimentally accessible pathway to investigate quasi-Hermitian mixed-state geometric phases and their finite-temperature transitions. This work establishes a unified framework for understanding mixed-state geometric phases in non-Hermitian quantum systems and opens a practical avenue for their experimental investigation.
title Theory of the Uhlmann Phase in Quasi-Hermitian Quantum Systems
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.01908