Observation of Parity-Time Symmetry in Optically Induced Atomic Lattices

We experimentally demonstrate PT-symmetric optical lattices with periodical gain and loss profiles in a coherently prepared four-level N-type atomic system. By appropriately tuning the pertinent atomic parameters, the onset of PT-symmetry breaking is observed through measuring an abrupt phase-shift...

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Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 117; no. 12; p. 123601
Main Authors Zhang, Zhaoyang, Zhang, Yiqi, Sheng, Jiteng, Yang, Liu, Miri, Mohammad-Ali, Christodoulides, Demetrios N, He, Bing, Zhang, Yanpeng, Xiao, Min
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 16.09.2016
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Summary:We experimentally demonstrate PT-symmetric optical lattices with periodical gain and loss profiles in a coherently prepared four-level N-type atomic system. By appropriately tuning the pertinent atomic parameters, the onset of PT-symmetry breaking is observed through measuring an abrupt phase-shift jump between adjacent gain and loss waveguides. The experimental realization of such a readily reconfigurable and effectively controllable PT-symmetric waveguide array structure sets a new stage for further exploiting and better understanding the peculiar physical properties of these non-Hermitian systems in atomic settings.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.117.123601