Solution of Wave Acceleration and Non-Hermitian Jump in Nonreciprocal Lattices
Abstract
The time evolution of initially localized wavepackets in the discrete Hatano-Nelson lattice displays a rich dynamical structure shaped by the interplay between dispersion and nonreciprocity. Our analysis reveals a characteristic evolution of the wave-packet center of mass, which undergoes an initial acceleration, subsequently slows down, and ultimately enters a regime of uniform motion, accompanied throughout by exponential amplification of the wave-packet amplitude. To capture this behavior, we develop a continuum approximation that incorporates higher-order dispersive and nonreciprocal effects and provides accurate analytical predictions across all relevant time scales. Building on this framework, we then demonstrate the existence of a non-Hermiticity-induced jump - an abrupt spatial shift of the wave-packet center even in the absence of disorder - and derive its underlying analytical foundation. The analytical predictions are in excellent agreement with direct numerical simulations of the Hatano-Nelson chain. Our results elucidate the interplay between dispersion and nonreciprocity in generating unconventional transport phenomena, and pave the way for controlling wave dynamics in nonreciprocal and non-Hermitian metamaterials.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2512.18287,
title = {Solution of Wave Acceleration and Non-Hermitian Jump in Nonreciprocal Lattices},
author = {Sayan Jana and Bertin Many Manda and Vassos Achilleos and Dimitrios J. Frantzeskakis and Lea Sirota},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.18287},
year = {2025}
}