Journal des lasers, optiques et photoniques

PT Symmetry Breaking for Ultraviolet Switchable Lasing to Anti-lasing States.

Abstract

James N. Monks1*,2 and Zengbo Wang1

The investigation of symmetries inspired by quantum mechanics in optical and photonic systems has generated a great deal of fundamental and technological research. Non-Hermitian physics based on parity-time (PT) symmetry, which was first postulated in research related to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, is one of the key emerging subjects. The intriguing physical effects made possible by non-Hermitian physics have greatly expended the possibilities for engineering new materials, applications, and technologies. This research reports on a two-dimensional nanoparticle system that can switch between a lasing and anti-lasing state when the PT symmetry is broken. The nanoparticle system consists of a loss-gain balance with silver nanoparticles and a conjectural material derived from the complex conjugate of the permittivity of silver in accordance with PT symmetry conditions. The eigenvalues bifurcation demonstrates that the system is non-Hermitian when symmetry is broken. This research offers the foundations for compact system with applications in many fields where lasers and anti-lasers are required including targeted radiological medicine.