Non-Hermitian Strongly Interacting Dirac Fermions.

ABSTRACT

Exotic quantum phases and phase transition in the strongly interacting Dirac systems have attracted tremendous interests. On the other hand, non-Hermitian physics, usually associated with dissipation arising from the coupling to environment, emerges as a frontier of modern physics in recent years. In this Letter, we investigate the interplay between non-Hermitian physics and strong correlation in Dirac-fermion systems. We generalize the projector quantum Monte-Carlo (PQMC) algorithm to the non-Hermitian interacting fermionic systems. Employing PQMC simulation, we decipher the ground-state phase diagram of the honeycomb Hubbard model with spin resolved non-Hermitian asymmetric hopping processes. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering induced by Hubbard interaction is enhanced by the non-Hermitian asymmetric hopping. Combining PQMC simulation and renormalization group analysis, we reveal that the quantum phase transition between Dirac semi-metal and AFM phases belongs to Hermitian chiral XY universality class, implying that a Hermitian Gross-Neveu transition is emergent at the quantum critical point although the model is non-Hermitian.