Boundary-dependent self-dualities, winding numbers, and asymmetrical localization in non-Hermitian aperiodic one-dimensional models

Abstract

We study a non-Hermitian Aubry-Andr\'e-Harper model with both nonreciprocal hoppings and complex quasiperiodical potentials, which is a typical non-Hermitian quasicrystal. We introduce boundary-dependent self-dualities in this model and obtain analytical results to describe its Asymmetrical Anderson localization and topological phase transitions. We find that the Anderson localization is not necessarily in accordance with the topological phase transitions, which are characteristics of localization of states and topology of energy spectrum respectively. Furthermore, in the localized phase, single-particle states are asymmetrically localized due to non-Hermitian skin effect and have energy-independent localization lengths. We also discuss possible experimental detections of our results in electric circuits.