Linear localization of zero modes in weakly coupled non-Hermitian reservoirs

Abstract: Topological and symmetry-protected non-Hermitian zero modes have attracted considerable interest in the past few years. Here we reveal that they can exhibit an unusual behavior when transitioning between the extended and localized regimes: When weakly coupled to a non-Hermitian reservoir, such a zero mode displays a linearly decreasing amplitude as a function of space, which is not caused by an EP of a Hamiltonian, either of the entire system or the reservoir itself. Instead, we attribute it to the non-Bloch solution of a linear homogeneous recurrence relation, together with the underlying non-Hermitian particle-hole symmetry and the zeroness of its energy.