PT-symmetric Systems Research Articles

Super Bloch oscillation in a [formula omitted] symmetric system

Wannier–Stark ladder in a PT symmetric system is generally complex that leads to amplified/damped Bloch oscillation. We show that a non-amplified wave packet oscillation with very large amplitude can be realized in a non-Hermitian tight binding lattice if certain conditions are satisfied. We show that pseudo PT symmetry guarantees the reality of the quasi energy spectrum in our system.

Accessing the exceptional points of parity-time symmetric acoustics.

Parity-time (PT) symmetric systems experience phase transition between PT exact and broken phases at exceptional point. These PT phase transitions contribute significantly to the design of single mode lasers, coherent perfect absorbers, isolators, and diodes. However, such exceptional points are extremely difficult to access in practice because of the dispersive behaviour of most loss and gain materials required in PT symmetric systems. Here we introduce a method to systematically tame these exceptional points and control PT phases. Our experimental demonstration hinges on an active acoustic element that realizes a complex-valued potential and simultaneously controls the multiple interference in the structure. The manipulation of exceptional points offers new routes to broaden applications for PT symmetric physics in acoustics, optics, microwaves and electronics, which are essential for sensing, communication and imaging.

Point interactions, metamaterials, and [formula omitted]-symmetry

We express the boundary conditions for TE and TM waves at the interfaces of an infinite planar slab of homogeneous metamaterial as certain point interactions and use them to compute the transfer matrix of the system. This allows us to demonstrate the omnidirectional reflectionlessness of Veselago’s slab for waves of arbitrary wavelength, reveal the translational and reflection symmetry of this slab, explore the laser threshold condition and coherent perfect absorption for active negative-index metamaterials, introduce a point interaction modeling phase-conjugation, determine the corresponding antilinear transfer matrix, and offer a simple proof of the equivalence of Veselago’s slab with a pair of parallel phase-conjugating plates. We also study the connection between certain optical setups involving metamaterials and a class of PT-symmetric quantum systems defined on wedge-shape contours in the complex plane. This provides a physical interpretation for the latter.

Isochronous Liénard-type nonlinear oscillators of arbitrary dimensions

In this paper, we briefly present an overview of the recent developments made in identifying/generating systems of Lienard-type nonlinear oscillators exhibiting isochronous properties, including linear, quadratic and mixed cases and their higher-order generalizations. There exists several procedures/methods in the literature to identify/generate isochronous systems. The application of local as well as nonlocal transformations and Ω-modified Hamiltonian method in identifying and generating systems exhibiting isochronous properties of arbitrary dimensions is also discussed in detail. The identified oscillators include singular and nonsingular Hamiltonian systems and PT-symmetric systems.

Bound states, scattering states, and resonant states inPT-symmetric open quantum systems

We study a simple open quantum system with a PT-symmetric defect potential as a prototype to illustrate general features of PT-symmetric open quantum systems; however, the potential could be mimicked by a number of recent PT experiments. One key feature is the resonance in continuum (RIC), which appears in both the discrete spectrum and scattering spectrum. The RIC forms a standing wave extending throughout the spatial extent of the system, representing a resonance between the open environment and the central PT-symmetric potential. We illustrate that as one deforms the system parameters, the RIC may exit the continuum by splitting into a bound state and a virtual bound state at the band edge, a process that should be experimentally observable. We also study the exceptional points (EPs) at which two eigenvalues coalesce; we categorize these as either EP2As, at which two real-valued solutions coalesce before becoming complex-valued, or EP2Bs, for which the two solutions are complex on either side of the EP. The EP2As are associated with PT-symmetry breaking; we argue that these are more stable against parameter perturbation than the EP2Bs. We also study complex-valued solutions of the discrete spectrum for which the wave function is nevertheless spatially localized, something not allowed in traditional open quantum systems; we illustrate that these may form quasi-bound states in continuum (QBICs) under some circumstances. We also study the scattering properties of the system, including states that support invisible propagation and some general features of perfect transmission states. We finally construct scattering states that satisfy PT-symmetric boundary conditions; while these states do not conserve the traditional probability current, we introduce the PT-current that is preserved. The perfect transmission states appear as a special case of the PT-symmetric scattering states.

Random matrix ensembles for PT-symmetric systems

Recently much effort has been made towards the introduction of non-Hermitian random matrix models respecting PT-symmetry. Here we show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between complex PT-symmetric matrices and split-complex and split-quaternionic versions of Hermitian matrices. We introduce two new random matrix ensembles of (a) Gaussian split-complex Hermitian; and (b) Gaussian split-quaternionic Hermitian matrices, of arbitrary sizes. We conjecture that these ensembles represent universality classes for PT-symmetric matrices. For the case of 2 × 2 matrices we derive analytic expressions for the joint probability distributions of the eigenvalues, the one-level densities and the level spacings in the case of real eigenvalues.

Spatial solitons and stability in self-focusing and defocusing Kerr nonlinear media with generalized parity-time-symmetric Scarff-II potentials.

We present a unified theoretical study of the bright solitons governed by self-focusing and defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equations with generalized parity-time- (PT) symmetric Scarff-II potentials. Particularly, a PT-symmetric k-wave-number Scarff-II potential and a multiwell Scarff-II potential are considered, respectively. For the k-wave-number Scarff-II potential, the parameter space can be divided into different regions, corresponding to unbroken and broken PT symmetry and the bright solitons for self-focusing and defocusing Kerr nonlinearities. For the multiwell Scarff-II potential the bright solitons can be obtained by using a periodically space-modulated Kerr nonlinearity. The linear stability of bright solitons with PT-symmetric k-wave-number and multiwell Scarff-II potentials is analyzed in detail using numerical simulations. Stable and unstable bright solitons are found in both regions of unbroken and broken PT symmetry due to the existence of the nonlinearity. Furthermore, the bright solitons in three-dimensional self-focusing and defocusing NLS equations with a generalized PT-symmetric Scarff-II potential are explored. This may have potential applications in the field of optical information transmission and processing based on optical solitons in nonlinear dissipative but PT-symmetric systems.

Parity-time-symmetry breaking in double-slab surface-plasmon-polariton waveguides.

We theoretically demonstrate spontaneous PT-symmetry breaking behavior of surface-plasmon polaritons (SPP) in coupled double-slab (DS) waveguides. By virtue of a flat-top field at critical wavelength, the imaginary index of a DS-SPP mode can be controlled via changing the core thickness, while the real index is kept constant. Therefore, a waveguide coupler that consists of a pair of DS-SPP waveguides with different core thicknesses can represent a passive PT-symmetric system, which always maintains symmetry under a real potential. This set-up also represents a good opportunity to investigate the underlying physics of PT-symmetry breaking in non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems.

Analytical Study on Propagation Dynamics of Optical Beam in Parity-Time Symmetric Optical Couplers* *Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11465008, the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation under Grant Nos. 2015JJ4020 and 2015JJ2114, the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department under Grant No. 14A118

We present exact analytical solutions to parity-time (PT) symmetric optical system describing light transport in PT-symmetric optical couplers. We show that light intensity oscillates periodically between two waveguides for unbroken PT-symmetric phase, whereas light always leaves the system from the waveguide experiencing gain when light is initially input at either waveguide experiencing gain or waveguide experiencing loss for broken PT-symmetric phase. These analytical results agree with the recent experimental observation reported by Rüter et al. [Nat. Phys. 6 (2010) 192]. Besides, we present a scheme for manipulating PT symmetry by applying a periodic modulation. Our results provide an efficient way to control light propagation in periodically modulated PT-symmetric system by tuning the modulation amplitude and frequency.

Classical and quantum dynamics in the (non-Hermitian) Swanson oscillator

The non-Hermitian quadratic oscillator known as the Swanson oscillator is one of the popular PT-symmetric model systems. Here a full classical description of its dynamics is derived using recently developed metriplectic flow equations, which combine the classical symplectic flow for Hermitian systems with a dissipative metric flow for the anti-Hermitian part. Closed form expressions for the metric and phase-space trajectories are presented which are found to be periodic in time. Since the Hamiltonian is only quadratic the classical dynamics exactly describe the quantum dynamics of Gaussian wave packets. It is shown that the classical metric and trajectories as well as the quantum wave functions can diverge in finite time even though the PT-symmetry is unbroken, i.e., the eigenvalues are purely real.

Extraordinary reflection and transmission with direction dependent wavelength selectivity based on parity-time-symmetric multilayers

In this paper, we present a kind of periodical ternary parity-time (PT) -symmetric multilayers to realize nearly 100% reflectance and transmittance simultaneously when light is incident from a certain direction. This extraordinary reflection and transmission is original from unidirectional Bragg reflection of PT-symmetric systems as the symmetry spontaneous breaking happens at PT thresholds. The extra energy involved in reflection and transmission lights is obtained from pumping light to the gain regions of the structure. Moreover, we find that our PT-symmetric structure shows direction dependent wavelength selectivity. When the illumination light is incident from two opposite directions into the multilayer structure, such extraordinary reflection and transmission appear at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, respectively. Such distinguishing properties may provide these structures with attractive applications as beam splitters, laser mirrors, narrow band filters, and multiband PT-symmetric optical devices.

Radiation-loss management in modulated waveguides.

In this work, we discuss the management of radiation loss in photonic waveguides. As an experimental basis, we introduce a new technique of fabricating waveguides with tunable loss, which is particularly useful when implementing non-Hermitian (PT-symmetric) systems. To this end, we employ laser-written waveguides with a transverse sinusoidal modulation, which causes well-controllable radiation losses of almost arbitrary amount. Numerical simulations support our experimental findings. Our study shows that the radiation loss not only depends on the local waveguide curvature but also is influenced by interference effects. As a consequence, the loss is a nonmonotonous function of the bending parameters, such as period length.

Quantum master equation with balanced gain and loss

We present a quantum master equation describing a Bose-Einstein condensate with particle loss on one lattice site and particle gain on the other lattice site whose mean-field limit is a non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Gross-Pitaevskii equation. It is shown that the characteristic properties of PT-symmetric systems, such as the existence of stationary states and the phase shift of pulses between two lattice sites, are also found in the many-particle system. Visualizing the dynamics on a Bloch sphere allows us to compare the complete dynamics of the master equation with that of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We find that even for a relatively small number of particles the dynamics are in excellent agreement and the master equation with balanced gain and loss is indeed an appropriate many-particle description of a PT-symmetric Bose-Einstein condensate.

Cavity-controlled spectral singularity.

We study theoretically a parity-time (PT)-symmetric, saturable, balanced gain-loss system in a ring-cavity configuration. The saturable gain and loss are modeled by a two-level medium with or without population inversion. We show that the specifics of the spectral singularity can be fully controlled by the cavity and the atomic detuning parameters. The theory is based on the mean-field approximation, as in the standard theory of optical bistability. Further, in the linear regime we demonstrate the regularization of the singularity in detuned systems, while larger input power levels are shown to be adequate to limit the infinite growth in absence of detunings.

Quasi-energies, parametric resonances, and stability limits in ac-driven PT-symmetric systems.

We introduce a simple model for implementing the concepts of quasi-energy and parametric resonances (PRs) in systems with the PT symmetry, i.e., a pair of coupled and mutually balanced gain and loss elements. The parametric (ac) forcing is applied through periodic modulation of the coefficient accounting for the coupling of the two degrees of freedom. The system may be realized in optics as a dual-core waveguide with the gain and loss applied to different cores, and the thickness of the gap between them subject to a periodic modulation. The onset and development of the parametric instability for a small forcing amplitude (V1) is studied in an analytical form. The full dynamical chart of the system is generated by systematic simulations. At sufficiently large values of the forcing frequency, ω, tongues of the parametric instability originate, with the increase of V1, as predicted by the analysis. However, the tongues following further increase of V1 feature a pattern drastically different from that in usual (non-PT) parametrically driven systems: instead of bending down to larger values of the dc coupling constant, V0, they maintain a direction parallel to the V1 axis. The system of the parallel tongues gets dense with the decrease of ω, merging into a complex small-scale structure of alternating regions of stability and instability. The cases of ω-->0 and ω-->∞ are studied analytically by means of the adiabatic and averaging approximation, respectively. The cubic nonlinearity, if added to the system, alters the picture, destabilizing many originally robust dynamical regimes, and stabilizing some which were unstable.

Adiabatic approximation in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics

In this paper, we present a quantitative sufficient condition for adiabatic approximation in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics, which yields that a state of the PT-symmetric quantum system at any time will remain approximately in the m-th eigenstate up to a multiplicative phase factor whenever it is initially in the m-th eigenstate of the Hamiltonian. In addition, we estimate the approximation errors by the distance and the fidelity between the exact solution and the adiabatic approximate solution to the time evolution equation, respectively.

EXCEPTIONAL POINTS IN OPEN AND PT-SYMMETRIC SYSTEMS

Exceptional points (EPs) determine the dynamics of open quantum systems and cause also PT symmetry breaking in PT symmetric systems. From a mathematical point of view, this is caused by the fact that the phases of the wavefunctions (eigenfunctions of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian) relative to one another are not rigid when an EP is approached. The system is therefore able to align with the environment to which it is coupled and, consequently, rigorous changes of the system properties may occur. We compare analytically as well as numerically the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a 2 × 2 matrix that is characteristic either of open quantum systems at high level density or of PT symmetric optical lattices. In both cases, the results show clearly the influence of the environment on the system in the neighborhood of EPs. Although the systems are very different from one another, the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions indicate the same characteristic features.

THE FLOQUET METHOD FOR PT-SYMMETRIC PERIODIC POTENTIALS

By the general theory of PT-symmetric quantum systems, their energy levels are either real or occur in complex-conjugate pairs, which implies that the secular equation must be real. However, for periodic potentials it is by no means clear that the secular equation arising in the Floquet method is indeed real, since it involves two linearly independent solutions of the Schrödinger equation. In this brief note we elucidate how that reality can be established.

Parity–time-symmetric whispering-gallery microcavities

Optical systems combining balanced loss and gain profiles provide a unique platform to implement classical analogues of quantum systems described by non-Hermitian parity-time- (PT-) symmetric Hamiltonians and to originate new synthetic materials with novel properties. To date, experimental works on PT-symmetric optical systems have been limited to waveguides in which resonances do not play a role. Here we report the first demonstration of PT-symmetry breaking in optical resonator systems by using two directly coupled on-chip optical whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microtoroid silica resonators. Gain in one of the resonators is provided by optically pumping Erbium (Er3+) ions embedded in the silica matrix; the other resonator exhibits passive loss. The coupling strength between the resonators is adjusted by using nanopositioning stages to tune their distance. We have observed reciprocal behavior of the PT-symmetric system in the linear regime, as well as a transition to nonreciprocity in the PT symmetry-breaking phase transition due to the significant enhancement of nonlinearity in the broken-symmetry phase. Our results represent a significant advance towards a new generation of synthetic optical systems enabling on-chip manipulation and control of light propagation.

Causality and phase transitions inPT-symmetric optical systems

We discuss phase transitions in PT-symmetric optical systems. We show that due to frequency dispersion of the dielectric permittivity, an optical system can have PT-symmetry at isolated frequency points only. An assumption of the existence of a PT-symmetric system in a continuous frequency interval violates the causality principle. Therefore, the ideal symmetry-breaking transition cannot be observed by simply varying the frequency.