Dissipative phase transition of interacting non-reciprocal fermions

Abstract: We study an interacting fermionic chain in the presence of non-reciprocal gain and loss processes obtained via reservoir engineering. The interplay between unitary evolution and the two dissipative processes leads to distinct non-reciprocal signatures in the transient dynamics and the steady state. These include a transition from exponential to power-law relaxation towards a finite-density steady-state, a nonzero particle current from breaking inversion symmetry, and dynamics under open boundary conditions showing directionality and charge accumulation. Weak interactions preserve the main signatures of non-reciprocity, enriching the interacting many-body non-reciprocal phase with volume law entanglement of quantum trajectories. Upon increasing the interaction above a critical value, we find a dissipative phase transition where reciprocity is dynamically restored.