Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Results in Physics

Asymmetric diffraction in anti-parity-time symmetry of non-Hermitian photonic lattice

Runrun Li, Hengfei Zhang, Jinpeng Yuan, Lirong Wang, Liantuan Xiao, Suotang Jia

Published Aug 23, 2024• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Non-Hermitian systems based on anti-parity-time (PT) symmetry reveal rich physics beyond the Hermitian regime. Here, the anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice is effectively achieved in a four-level inverted Y-type 85 Rb atomic vapor. Such instantaneously reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice possessing susceptibility of 𝜒 ⁡ ( 𝑥 ) = − 𝜒 ∗ ⁡ ( − 𝑥 ) , is established by a one-dimensional standing-wave coupling field under the assist of a standing-wave driving field. The input probe beam experiences a periodic refractive index modulation when traveling through the photonic lattice, the evolution of output diffraction patterns with symmetric, asymmetric, and lopsided intensity distribution is obtained by adjusting the relevant parameters of constructed non-Hermitian system. Moreover, the anti-PT symmetry in two-dimensional case of both square and hexagonal lattices are correspondingly realized. Our work promotes the development of non-Hermitian devices, and also has some important applications in quantum simulation .

DOI
10.1016/j.rinp.2024.107932

Related papers

Discrete dynamics of light in an anti-parity-time symmetric photonic lattice in atomic vapors

Qingsong Yu, Jiaqi Yuan, Zhenzhi Liu +4 more

Rb atomic system both experimentally and theoretically. Such an instantaneously reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice is "written" by two one-dimensional coupling fields, which are arranged alternately along the x direction and can modulate the refractive index of the atomic vapor in a spatially periodical manner via controllable atomic coherence. By properly adjusting the relevant atomic parameters, the phase shift between two adjacent lattice channels occurs in the constructed non-Hermitian photonic system. Such a readily reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice may open the door for demonstrating the discrete characteristics of the optical waves in periodic anti-PT-symmetric photonic systems.

Optics Letters•Oct 9, 2023•8 citations

Lopsided optical diffraction in a loop electromagnetically induced grating

Da Huo, Shuo Hua, Xuedong Tian +1 more

Rb) atomic ensemble with a non-Hermitian optical structure, in which a lopsided optical diffraction grating can be realized just with the combination of single spatially periodic modulation and loop-phase. Parity-time (PT) symmetric and parity-time antisymmetric (APT) modulation can be switched by adjusting different relative phases of the applied beams. Both PT symmetry and PT antisymmetry in our system are robust to the amplitudes of coupling fields, which allows optical response to be modulated precisely without symmetry breaking. Our scheme shows some nontrivial optical properties, such as lopsided diffraction, single-order diffraction, asymmetric Dammam-like diffraction, etc. Our work will benefit the development of versatile non-Hermitian/asymmetric optical devices.

arXiv:2208.00272•Optics Express•Apr 14, 2023•4 citations

Optical 𝒫𝒯-symmetry and 𝒫𝒯-antisymmetry in coherently driven atomic lattices

Xin Wang, Jin-Hui Wu

We study an ensemble of ultracold atoms trapped in the one-dimensional optical lattices under the N level configuration to examine the absorption and dispersion properties modulated into different ways along the lattice direction z. We find these trapped atoms with a Gaussian density distribution in each period may exhibit either symmetry χp(z)=χp*(-z) or antisymmetry χp(z)=-χp*(-z) of parity-time (PT) in terms of the probe susceptibility. Such intriguing twofold modulations of real (χ'p) and imaginary (χ″p) susceptibilities with a π/2 phase shift are attained by spatially modulating intensities or frequencies of one driving field in a suitable way. The PT-symmetric or PT-antisymmetric atomic lattices correspond in fact to complex photonic crystals and may be extended to develop functional devices like photonic diodes and transistors, a task impossible for real photonic crystals.

Optics Express•Feb 19, 2016•60 citations

Quantum simulation of PT-arbitrary-phase–symmetric systems

Chao Zheng

Abstract Parity-time-reversal (PT) symmetric quantum mechanics promotes the increasing research interest of non-Hermitian (NH) systems for the theoretical value, novel properties, and links to open and dissipative systems in various areas. Recently, anti-PT–symmetric systems and their featured properties have started to be investigated. In this work, we develop the PT and anti-PT symmetry to PT-arbitrary-phase symmetry (or PT- φ symmetry) for the first time, being analogous to bosons, fermions and anyons. It can also be seen as a complex extension of the PT symmetry, unifying the PT and anti-PT symmetries and having intermediate properties between them. Many of the established concepts and mathematics in the PT-symmetric system are still compatible. We mainly investigate quantum simulation of this novel NH system in two dimensions in detail and discuss for higher-dimensional cases in general using the linear combinations of unitaries in the scheme of duality quantum computing, enabling implementations and experimental investigations of novel properties on both small quantum devices and near-term quantum computers.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Nov 1, 2021•17 citations

Asymmetric diffraction by atomic gratings with optical PT symmetry in the Raman-Nath regime

Tao Shui, Wen‐Xing Yang, Shaopeng Liu +2 more

We propose and analyze an efficient scheme for the lopsided Raman-Nath diffraction of one-dimensional ($1\mathrm{D}$) and two-dimensional ($2\mathrm{D}$) atomic gratings with periodic parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$)-symmetric refractive index. The atomic grating is constructed by the cold-atomic vapor with two isotopes of rubidium, which is driven by weak probe field and space-dependent control field. Using experimentally achievable parameters, we identify the conditions under which $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric refractive index allows us to observe the lopsided Raman-Nath diffraction phenomenon and improve the diffraction efficiencies beyond what is achievable in a conventional atomic grating. The nontrivial atomic grating is a superposition of an amplitude grating and a phase grating. It is found that the lopsided Raman-Nath diffraction at the exceptional point (EP) of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric grating originates from constructive and destructive interferences between the amplitude and phase gratings. Furthermore, we show that the $\mathcal{PT}$-phase transition from unbroken to broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric regimes can modify the asymmetric distribution of the diffraction spectrum and that the diffraction efficiencies in the non-negative diffraction orders can be significantly enhanced when the atomic grating is pushed into a broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric phase. In addition, we also analyze the influence of the grating thickness on the diffraction spectrum. Our scheme may provide the possibility to design a gain-beam splitter with tunable splitting ratio and other optical components in integrated optics.

Physical Review A•Mar 13, 2018•74 citations

Non-Hermitian optics in atomic systems

Zhaoyang Zhang, Danmeng Ma, Jiteng Sheng +3 more

Abstract A wide class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can possess entirely real eigenvalues when they have parity-time (PT) symmetric potentials. Recently, this family of non-Hermitian systems has attracted considerable attention in diverse areas of physics due to their extraordinary properties, especially in optical systems based on solid-state materials, such as coupled gain–loss waveguides and microcavities. Considering the desired refractive index can be effectively manipulated through atomic coherence, it is important to realize such non-Hermitian optical potentials and further investigate their distinct properties in atomic systems. In this paper, we review the recent theoretical and experimental progress of non-Hermitian optics with coherently prepared multi-level atomic configurations. The realizations of (anti-) PT symmetry with different schemes have extensively demonstrated the special optical properties of non-Hermitian optical systems with atomic coherence.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Feb 15, 2018•50 citations
Non-Hermitian systems based on anti-parity-time (PT) symmetry reveal rich physics beyond the Hermitian regime. Here, the anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice is effectively achieved in a four-level inverted Y-type 85 Rb atomic vapor. Such instantaneously reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice possessing susceptibility of 𝜒 ⁡ ( 𝑥 ) = − 𝜒 ∗ ⁡ ( − 𝑥 ) , is established by a one-dimensional standing-wave coupling field under the assist of a standing-wave driving field. The input probe beam experiences a periodic refractive index modulation when traveling through the photonic lattice, the evolution of output diffraction patterns with symmetric, asymmetric, and lopsided intensity distribution is obtained by adjusting the relevant parameters of constructed non-Hermitian system. Moreover, the anti-PT symmetry in two-dimensional case of both square and hexagonal lattices are correspondingly realized. Our work promotes the development of non-Hermitian devices, and also has some important applications in quantum simulation .
Rb atomic system both experimentally and theoretically. Such an instantaneously reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice is "written" by two one-dimensional coupling fields, which are arranged alternately along the x direction and can modulate the refractive index of the atomic vapor in a spatially periodical manner via controllable atomic coherence. By properly adjusting the relevant atomic parameters, the phase shift between two adjacent lattice channels occurs in the constructed non-Hermitian photonic system. Such a readily reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice may open the door for demonstrating the discrete characteristics of the optical waves in periodic anti-PT-symmetric photonic systems.
Rb) atomic ensemble with a non-Hermitian optical structure, in which a lopsided optical diffraction grating can be realized just with the combination of single spatially periodic modulation and loop-phase. Parity-time (PT) symmetric and parity-time antisymmetric (APT) modulation can be switched by adjusting different relative phases of the applied beams. Both PT symmetry and PT antisymmetry in our system are robust to the amplitudes of coupling fields, which allows optical response to be modulated precisely without symmetry breaking. Our scheme shows some nontrivial optical properties, such as lopsided diffraction, single-order diffraction, asymmetric Dammam-like diffraction, etc. Our work will benefit the development of versatile non-Hermitian/asymmetric optical devices.
We study an ensemble of ultracold atoms trapped in the one-dimensional optical lattices under the N level configuration to examine the absorption and dispersion properties modulated into different ways along the lattice direction z. We find these trapped atoms with a Gaussian density distribution in each period may exhibit either symmetry χp(z)=χp*(-z) or antisymmetry χp(z)=-χp*(-z) of parity-time (PT) in terms of the probe susceptibility. Such intriguing twofold modulations of real (χ'p) and imaginary (χ″p) susceptibilities with a π/2 phase shift are attained by spatially modulating intensities or frequencies of one driving field in a suitable way. The PT-symmetric or PT-antisymmetric atomic lattices correspond in fact to complex photonic crystals and may be extended to develop functional devices like photonic diodes and transistors, a task impossible for real photonic crystals.
Abstract Parity-time-reversal (PT) symmetric quantum mechanics promotes the increasing research interest of non-Hermitian (NH) systems for the theoretical value, novel properties, and links to open and dissipative systems in various areas. Recently, anti-PT–symmetric systems and their featured properties have started to be investigated. In this work, we develop the PT and anti-PT symmetry to PT-arbitrary-phase symmetry (or PT- φ symmetry) for the first time, being analogous to bosons, fermions and anyons. It can also be seen as a complex extension of the PT symmetry, unifying the PT and anti-PT symmetries and having intermediate properties between them. Many of the established concepts and mathematics in the PT-symmetric system are still compatible. We mainly investigate quantum simulation of this novel NH system in two dimensions in detail and discuss for higher-dimensional cases in general using the linear combinations of unitaries in the scheme of duality quantum computing, enabling implementations and experimental investigations of novel properties on both small quantum devices and near-term quantum computers.
We propose and analyze an efficient scheme for the lopsided Raman-Nath diffraction of one-dimensional (1D1\mathrm{D}1D) and two-dimensional (2D2\mathrm{D}2D) atomic gratings with periodic parity-time (PT\mathcal{PT}PT)-symmetric refractive index. The atomic grating is constructed by the cold-atomic vapor with two isotopes of rubidium, which is driven by weak probe field and space-dependent control field. Using experimentally achievable parameters, we identify the conditions under which PT\mathcal{PT}PT-symmetric refractive index allows us to observe the lopsided Raman-Nath diffraction phenomenon and improve the diffraction efficiencies beyond what is achievable in a conventional atomic grating. The nontrivial atomic grating is a superposition of an amplitude grating and a phase grating. It is found that the lopsided Raman-Nath diffraction at the exceptional point (EP) of PT\mathcal{PT}PT-symmetric grating originates from constructive and destructive interferences between the amplitude and phase gratings. Furthermore, we show that the PT\mathcal{PT}PT-phase transition from unbroken to broken PT\mathcal{PT}PT-symmetric regimes can modify the asymmetric distribution of the diffraction spectrum and that the diffraction efficiencies in the non-negative diffraction orders can be significantly enhanced when the atomic grating is pushed into a broken PT\mathcal{PT}PT-symmetric phase. In addition, we also analyze the influence of the grating thickness on the diffraction spectrum. Our scheme may provide the possibility to design a gain-beam splitter with tunable splitting ratio and other optical components in integrated optics.
Abstract A wide class of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians can possess entirely real eigenvalues when they have parity-time (PT) symmetric potentials. Recently, this family of non-Hermitian systems has attracted considerable attention in diverse areas of physics due to their extraordinary properties, especially in optical systems based on solid-state materials, such as coupled gain–loss waveguides and microcavities. Considering the desired refractive index can be effectively manipulated through atomic coherence, it is important to realize such non-Hermitian optical potentials and further investigate their distinct properties in atomic systems. In this paper, we review the recent theoretical and experimental progress of non-Hermitian optics with coherently prepared multi-level atomic configurations. The realizations of (anti-) PT symmetry with different schemes have extensively demonstrated the special optical properties of non-Hermitian optical systems with atomic coherence.