- Letter
Nonlinearity induced hierarchy of topological singularities
Phys. Rev. B 114, L171103 – Published 2 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/qbr7-dpdr
Abstract
Topological singularities are fundamental organizing principles in wave physics, yet whether nonlinearity can intrinsically generate new singular structures remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that even a minimal nonlinear system—consisting of a single Kerr-nonlinear cavity coupled to a linear cavity—supports a rich hierarchy of topological singularities with no counterpart in linear two-mode systems. By analyzing the full nonlinear spectrum, we identify multiple classes of degeneracies, including higher-order exceptional-like singularities, nondefective degeneracies, and unconventional second-order singularities exhibiting anomalous scaling behavior. To rigorously define their topology, we introduce an isospectral embedding that maps the nonlinear eigenproblem to a higher-dimensional linear Hamiltonian, enabling well-defined Berry-phase and phase-rigidity diagnostics. This framework reveals that commonly studied limits, such as the zero-coupling case, correspond to special cross-sections of a broader nonlinear singularity landscape. Our results establish nonlinearity as a fundamental source of topological singularities and provide a general route toward higher-order and unconventional topology beyond linear paradigms.