The $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum Rabi model: Solutions and exceptional points

Abstract: The non-Hermitian one-photon and two-photon quantum Rabi models (QRMs) with imaginary couplings are respectively solved through the Bogoliubov operators approach. Transcendental functions responsible for exact solutions are derived, whose zeros produce the complete spectra. Exceptional points (EPs) can be identified in terms of the transcendental function. The EP is formed in the two nearest-neighboring excited energy levels, and shifts towards lower coupling strength at higher energy levels. Interestingly, under the resonant condition in the non-Hermitian two-photon QRM, the lowest two excited states within the same parity in the even photonic number subspace coalesce at an EP, but take always the purely real energy, in sharp contrast to the conventional EP in the non-Hermitian systems. For both non-Hermitian QRMs, the fidelity susceptibility goes to negative infinity at the EPs, consistent with the recent observations in non-Hermitian systems. All eigenstates can be labeled by the conserved energy and the QRM parity, we argue that the non-Hermitian QRMs are also integrable, similar to their Hermitian counterparts.