Observation Of Parity-Time Symmetry In Optically Induced Atomic Lattices

Abstract

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.

Publication Date

9-13-2016

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Volume

117

Issue

12

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.123601

Socpus ID

84990184594 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84990184594

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