Asymmetric scattering by non-hermitian potentials
Abstract
The scattering of quantum particles by non-hermitian (generally nonlocal) potentials in one dimension may result in asymmetric transmission and/or reflection from left and right incidence. Eight generalized symmetries based on the discrete Klein's four-group (formed by parity, time reversal, their product, and unity) are used together with generalized unitarity relations to determine the possible and/or forbidden scattering asymmetries. Six basic device types are identified when the scattering coefficients (squared moduli of scattering amplitudes) adopt zero/one values, and transmission and/or reflection are asymmetric. They can pictorially be described as a one-way mirror, a one-way barrier (a Maxwell pressure demon), one-way (transmission or reflection) filters, a mirror with unidirectional transmission, and a transparent, one-way reflector. We design potentials for these devices and also demonstrate that the behavior of the scattering coefficients can be extended to a broad range of incident momenta.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1709.07027,
title = {Asymmetric scattering by non-hermitian potentials},
author = {A. Ruschhaupt and T. Dowdall and M. A. Simón and J. G. Muga},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1709.07027},
year = {2018}
}