English

Exponentially Fragile PT-Symmetry in Lattices with Localized Eigenmodes

Other Condensed Matter 2009-09-02 v1 Disordered Systems and Neural Networks Quantum Physics

Abstract

We study the effect of localized modes in lattices of size N with parity-time (PT) symmetry. Such modes are arranged in pairs of quasi-degenerate levels with splitting delta exp{-N/xi}, where \xi is their localization length. The level "evolution" with respect to the PT breaking parameter gamma shows a cascade of bifurcations during which a pair of real levels becomes complex. The spontaneous PT symmetry breaking occurs at gamma min(delta), thus resulting in an exponentially narrow exact PT phase. As N/xi decreases, it becomes more robust with gamma (1/N)^2 and the distribution P(gamma) changes from log-normal to semi-Gaussian. Our theory can be tested in the frame of optical lattices.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0908.2380,
  title  = {Exponentially Fragile PT-Symmetry in Lattices with Localized Eigenmodes},
  author = {Oliver Bendix and Ragnar Fleischmann and Tsampikos Kottos and Boris Shapiro},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0908.2380},
  year   = {2009}
}