Fate of localization features in a one-dimensional non-Hermitian flat-band lattice with quasiperiodic modulations

Abstract

We investigate the influence of quasiperiodic modulations on one-dimensional non-Hermitian diamond lattices with an artificial magnetic flux θ that possess flat bands. Our study shows that the symmetry of these modulations and the magnetic flux θ play a pivotal role in shaping the localization properties of the system. When θ = 0, the non-Hermitian lattice exhibits a single flat band in the crystalline case, and symmetric as well as antisymmetric modulations can induce accurate mobility edges. In contrast, when θ=π, the clean diamond lattice manifests three dispersionless bands referred to as an ‘all-band-flat’ (ABF) structure, irrespective of the non-Hermitian parameter. The ABF structure restricts the transition from delocalized to localized states, as all states remain localized for any finite symmetric modulation. Our numerical calculations further unveil that the ABF system subjected to antisymmetric modulations exhibits multifractal-to-localized edges. Multifractal states are predominantly concentrated in the internal region of the spectrum. Additionally, we explore the case where θ lies within the range of (0,π), revealing a diverse array of complex localization features. Finally, we propose a classical electrical circuit scheme to realize the non-Hermitian flat-band chain with quasiperiodic modulations.