PT-symmetry breaking in multilayers with resonant loss and gain locks light propagation direction

Abstract

Using the Maxwell-Bloch equations for resonantly absorbing and amplifying media, we study the temporal dynamics of light propagation through the PT-symmetric structures with alternating loss and gain layers. This approach allows us to precisely describe the response of the structure near the exceptional points of PT-symmetry breaking phase transition and, in particular, take into account the nonlinear effect of loss and gain saturation in the PT-symmetry broken state. We reveal that in this latter state the multilayer system possesses a lasing-like behavior releasing the pumped energy in the form of powerful pulses. We predict locking of pulse direction due to the PT-symmetry breaking, as well as saturation-induced irreversibility of phase transition and nonreciprocal transmission.

arXiv comment9 pages, 9 figures + Supplemental Material (5 pages, 6 figures); accepted by Phys. Rev. B

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• Unambiguous scattering matrix for non-Hermitian systems
• Quasi-bound states in the continuum induced by $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetry breaking
• Nonlocal homogenization of PT-symmetric multilayered structures
• CPA-laser effect and exceptional points in PT-symmetric multilayer structures
• Multimode parity-time and loss-compensation symmetries in coupled waveguides with loss and gain
• Quantum optical effective-medium theory for layered metamaterials
• Effects of quantum deformation on the Jaynes-Cummings and anti-Jaynes-Cummings models
• Virtual perfect absorption in resonant media and their PT-symmetric generalizations
• Controlling wave-front shape and propagation time with tunable disordered non-Hermitian multilayers
• Different regimes of ultrashort pulse propagation in disordered layered media with resonant loss and gain
• Unidirectional reflectivity in non-Hermitian lossy thin films
• CPA-lasing associated with the quasibound states in the continuum in asymmetric non-Hermitian structures