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Phase sensitivity of light dynamics in PT-symmetric couplers

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Abstract

We study the sensitivity of light dynamics to the internal phase of propagating pulses in the two types of \(\mathcal {PT}\)-symmetric models. The first is a waveguide array with an embedded pair of waveguides with gain and loss, called \(\mathcal {PT}\)-coupler, and the second is a planar coupler which models a chain of \(\mathcal {PT}\)-symmetric couplers. For the first model we investigate the soliton scattering on the mode localized on the coupler, while for second model we study the collision of two breathers. For both models we find that the light dynamics is sensitive to the internal phases of the interacting pulses. Particularly, the \(\mathcal {PT}\)-symmetry breaking can take place or not, depending on the internal phases of two signals having identical other parameters.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, grants 12-02-315-06 mol_a and 11-08-97057-p_povoljie_a, by the Australian Research Council (including Future Fellowship FT100100160).

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Correspondence to Sergey V. Suchkov.

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Suchkov, S.V., Dmitriev, S.V., Sukhorukov, A.A. et al. Phase sensitivity of light dynamics in PT-symmetric couplers. Appl. Phys. A 115, 443–447 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-8036-1

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