Exceptional Topology Survives Strong Hermitian Fields in Radiative Atomic Arrays

Abstract

Exceptional points are topological defects of complex band structures that are stable against weak perturbations, yet in bounded two-band systems they are ultimately removed by a sufficiently strong Hermitian field. Here we demonstrate a striking exception in a two-dimensional subwavelength atomic array. Along a continuous square-to-triangular deformation at fixed magnetic field, the bulk passes between line-gapped topological regions with band Chern numbers (C_1,C_2)=(2,-2) through a gapless exceptional region. Within a finite interval of lattice deformation, increasing the magnetic field merely drives the exceptional points toward the light cone because of the singular radiative dipolar couplings. We further show that skin localization toward open boundaries responds non-monotonically to the same field. An intermediate field drives a bipolar skin localization, with bulk modes accumulating at opposite edges, whereas stronger fields suppress boundary localization. Our results establish the interplay of lattice geometry, light-cone singularity, and Hermitian magnetic field as a route to engineering Chern and exceptional topology beyond the conventional strong-field limit.