Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-21-2018

Abstract

Achieving exact balance between spatially separated gain and loss is generally regarded as a necessary condition for parity-time- (PT-)symmetric optical systems. We introduce generalized PT- (GPT-)symmetric optical structures, which have an asymmetric and unbalanced gain-loss profile, while exhibiting similar scattering properties and phase transitions as their traditional PT-symmetric counterparts. In particular, we show that the concept of GPT symmetry may help to reduce the threshold gain in achieving newly discovered PT-enabled applications, such as the coherent perfect absorber laser and exceptional points. The concept proposed herein will facilitate the practice of PT-symmetric optical and photonic devices by offering greater design flexibility to tailor gain-loss profiles and their thresholds.

Comments

This article was originally published in Physical Review Applied, volume 10, issue 2, in 2018. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.10.024030

Copyright

American Physical Society

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