Generalized phantom helix states in quantum spin graphs

In general, the summation of a set of sub-Hamiltonians cannot share a common eigenstate of each one, only if it is an unentangled product state, such as a phantom helix state in quantum spin system. Here we present a method, referred to as the building block method (BBM), for constructing possible spin-1/2 XXZ Heisenberg lattice systems possessing phantom helix states. We focus on two types of XXZ dimers as basic elements, with a non-Hermitian parity-time (PT ) field and Hermitian Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), which share the same degenerate eigenstates. Based on these two building blocks, one can construct a variety of Heisenberg quantum spin systems, which support helix states with zero energy. The underlying mechanism is the existence of a set of degenerate eigenstates. Furthermore, we show that such systems act as quantum spin graphs since they obey the analogs of Kirchhoff's laws for sets of spin helix states when the non-Hermitian PT fields cancel each other out. In addition, the dynamic response of the helix states for three types of perturbations is also investigated analytically and numerically. Our findings provide a way to study quantum spin systems with irregular geometries beyond the Bethe ansatz approach.