Unbroken $${{{\mathscr{P}}}}{{{\mathscr{T}}}}$$ P T -symmetry in the absence of gain or loss

Johannes Bentzien, Julien Pinske, Lukas J. Maczewsky, Steffen Weimann, Matthias Heinrich, Stefan Scheel and Alexander Szameit ()
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Johannes Bentzien: University of Rostock
Julien Pinske: University of Copenhagen
Lukas J. Maczewsky: University of Rostock
Steffen Weimann: University of Rostock
Matthias Heinrich: University of Rostock
Stefan Scheel: University of Rostock
Alexander Szameit: University of Rostock

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The concept of parity-time symmetry has firmly established non-Hermiticity as a versatile degree of freedom on a variety of physical platforms. In general, the non-Hermitian dynamics of open systems are perceived to be inextricably linked to complex-valued potentials facilitating the local attenuation and coherent amplification in wave mechanics. Along these lines, time reversal symmetry is associated with a complex conjugation of the potential landscape, in essence swapping gain and loss. Here we leverage nonorthogonal coupled-mode theory to synthesize genuinely non-Hermitian dynamics without either gain or loss, and experimentally demonstrate parity-time symmetry via fluorescence measurements in femtosecond-laser-written arrays. Our projective approach allows features of non-Hermiticity to be utilized in scenarios where actual amplification and/or attenuation may disrupt the desired physics, e.g. in nonlinear systems or quantum optics.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63242-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63242-3

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