Observation of PT-symmetry breaking in complex optical potentials.
In 1998, Bender and Boettcher found that a wide class of Hamiltonians, even though non-Hermitian, can still exhibit entirely real spectra provided that they obey parity-time requirements or PT symmetry. Here we demonstrate experimentally passive PT-symmetry breaking within the realm of optics. This phase transition leads to a loss induced optical transparency in specially designed pseudo-Hermitian guiding potentials.
Guo
A
A
Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA.
Salamo
G J
GJ
Duchesne
D
D
Morandotti
R
R
Volatier-Ravat
M
M
Aimez
V
V
Siviloglou
G A
GA
Christodoulides
D N
DN