Controlling exceptional points with light

Abstract

We propose and show that application of light leads to an intriguing platform for controlling exceptional points in non-Hermitian topological systems. We demonstrate our proposal using three different non-Hermitian systems -- nodal line semimetals, semi-Dirac semimetals and Dirac semimetals -- and show that using illumination with light one can engineer the positions and stability of exceptional points. We illustrate the topological properties of these models and map out their light-driven topological phase transitions.