Topological dynamics in an optomechanical system with highly non-degenerate modes

Understand

Non-Hermitian systems exhibit phenomena that are qualitatively different from those of Hermitian systems and have been exploited to achieve a number of ends, including the generation of exceptional points, nonreciprocal dynamics, non-orthogonal normal modes, and topological operations.

• However to date these effects have only been accessible with nearly-degenerate modes (i.e., modes with frequency difference comparable to their linewidth and coupling rate).
• Here we demonstrate an optomechanical scheme that extends topological control to highly non-degenerate modes of a non-Hermitian system.
• Specifically, we induce a "virtual exceptional point" between two mechanical modes whose frequencies differ by >10^3 times their linewidth and coupling rate, and use adiabatic topological operations to transfer energy between these modes.