Exceptional point in self-consistent Markovian master equations

Abstract: Exceptional point (EP) denotes the non-Hermitian degeneracy, in which both eigenvalues and eigenstates become identical. By the conventional local Markovian master equation, EP can be constructed by parity-time (PT) or anti-PT symmetry in a system composed of coupled subsystems. However, the coupling between two systems makes the conventional local Markovian master equation become inconsistent. By using the self-consistent Markovian master equation, we show that there is no EP in the system composed of two bosonic subsystems. We further prove that the conventional local master equation can be valid only when the coupling strength is much smaller than the difference in resonance frequency between the two subsystems, rather than the resonance frequencies. In a system composed of three bosonic subsystems, EP can be obtained by adiabatically eliminating one of the three subsystems.