Wavefunction magnitudes being degenerate everywhere on parameter space even though energy degeneracies occur at isolated points?

Cross-posted here.

Consider the usual simple 2-level gapless graphene Hamiltonian in momentum-space where the energy dispersion is degenerate/gapless at a Dirac point:

$$$$\tag{1} {\small H(k,M)=-t \sum_{\delta} [\cos(k\cdot\delta)\sigma_x-\sin(k\cdot\delta)\sigma_y+M\sigma_z],}$$$$

where $$t$$ is the hopping, $$\sigma_i$$ are Pauli matrices, $$\delta$$ lattice vectors and $$M$$ an on-site potential ($$M=0$$ for graphene).

When I solve for its wavefunctions both numerically and analytically, the eigenvectors/wavefunctions themselves are complex numbers with an arbitrary complex phase (as expected, depending on the numerical software used). The complex values of the wavefunction at different points on parameter space are different, also as expected.

However, I noticed that the complex magnitude of the eigenvectors are $$(\frac{1}{\sqrt2},\frac{1}{\sqrt2})^T$$ for all values of $$(k_x,k_y)$$. By 'complex magnitude', I mean: Each eigenvector $$|\psi_i\rangle\equiv z$$ is a complex-valued vector with two row elements. Being a complex number, each element may be written as $$|z|e^{i\theta}$$ for the complex magnitude $$|z|$$ and complex phase $$\theta$$. So, in this case, the wavefunctions share the same normalization $$(\frac{1}{\sqrt2},\frac{1}{\sqrt2})^T = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(1,1)^T$$.

This does not sit well with me because, if I add a small on-site potential/mass to the graphene Hamiltonian to gap the system ($$M\neq0$$ above; so that the dispersion is non-degenerate everywhere on k-space), these wavefunction magnitudes change depending on $$(k_x,k_y)$$. So, as expected, there is a higher magnitude at the Dirac points (as in the first picture below). But, the magnitude is constant everywhere when $$M=0$$ (graphene, second picture), even though I expected it to be a Dirac delta function-like peak at the Dirac points.

I know that Berry-quantities such as the Berry curvature cannot be defined because of the degeneracy, but I want to understand the root and significance of the degenerate wavefunction magnitudes everywhere in parameter space. Besides the common probability interpretation (integration squared = probability = $$\frac{1}{2}$$ in this case), is there anything else about quantum mechanics / Hilbert spaces / numerical work / physics that this magnitude-observation sheds light on, keeping the issue of gapped vs gapless in perspective? Or is the observed magnitude indicative of the wavefunctions not being well-defined away from the gapless point? What I don't understand is the reason all this happens, and any insight/significance of this.

First picture: Magnitude of one row element of one wavefunction in k-space when $$M\neq0$$:

Second picture: Magnitude of one row element of one wavefunction in k-space when $$M=0$$:

• Could you clarify what you mean by complex amplitude here? Are you just saying that $|\psi_1\rangle$, $|\psi_2\rangle$ share the same overall normalization factor? Also, it may be helpful to include the Hamiltonian in the question. May 13 at 1:41
• @Anyon Yes, sorry. If $z=|\psi_1\rangle$, since $z$ is a complex vector, each of its row elements may be written as $z_i = |z_i| e^{i \theta}$, where $|z_i|$ is the complex amplitude and $\theta$ is the phase. So, in this 2-level case, each level will have two such amplitudes corresponding to each row element. In the gapless case, all four elements’ amplitudes are the same everywhere in k-space. Thanks, I am currently away from my computer, but can post a Hamiltonian tomorrow morning. Typing LaTeX on my phone takes too much time and causes too many typos. :-/ May 13 at 2:02
• +1 A guess may be that your 2-band Hamiltonian has electron-hole symmetry, but I agree with Anyon that it would be good if you write it down. May 13 at 7:44
• @ProfM, I have added the Hamiltonian. May 13 at 16:04