Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases
In standard quantum theory, the Hamiltonian describing a physical system is assumed to be Hermitian in order to guarantee the energy spectrum to be real and the time evolution to be unitary. In recent years, it was recognized that non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with parity-time ($ \mathcal PT $) symmetr...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2017-05-01
|
| Series: | Advances in Physics: X |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23746149.2017.1352457 |
| _version_ | 1828356934803128320 |
|---|---|
| author | Chao Hang Guoxiang Huang |
| author_facet | Chao Hang Guoxiang Huang |
| author_sort | Chao Hang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In standard quantum theory, the Hamiltonian describing a physical system is assumed to be Hermitian in order to guarantee the energy spectrum to be real and the time evolution to be unitary. In recent years, it was recognized that non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with parity-time ($ \mathcal PT $) symmetry can exhibit entirely real spectra, raising the possibility for extending the quantum theory to complex domain and hence stimulated growing interest in recent years. Many proposals have been presented for realizing $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric Hamiltonians in various physical systems. Among them $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric coherent atomic gases are special and possess many unique advantages, including the possibility to obtain authentic $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric refractive indexes (which have balanced gain and loss in the whole space), the capability to actively control and precisely manipulate system parameters in situ, and the feasibility to acquire large Kerr nonlinearity based on the resonance character between light and atoms. In this article, we review various schemes for the realization of $ \mathcal PT $ symmetry with coherent atomic gases, elucidate their interesting properties and promising applications. In particular, the non-linear optical effect in the $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric atomic gases are described, which may be served as useful building blocks for developing novel photonic devices with active light control at very low power level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:07:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-accdca4ae10f45129318b245f44a1bbf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-6149 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:07:19Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Physics: X |
| spelling | doaj.art-accdca4ae10f45129318b245f44a1bbf2022-12-22T02:15:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAdvances in Physics: X2374-61492017-05-012373778310.1080/23746149.2017.13524571352457Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gasesChao Hang0Guoxiang Huang1East China Normal UniversityEast China Normal UniversityIn standard quantum theory, the Hamiltonian describing a physical system is assumed to be Hermitian in order to guarantee the energy spectrum to be real and the time evolution to be unitary. In recent years, it was recognized that non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with parity-time ($ \mathcal PT $) symmetry can exhibit entirely real spectra, raising the possibility for extending the quantum theory to complex domain and hence stimulated growing interest in recent years. Many proposals have been presented for realizing $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric Hamiltonians in various physical systems. Among them $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric coherent atomic gases are special and possess many unique advantages, including the possibility to obtain authentic $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric refractive indexes (which have balanced gain and loss in the whole space), the capability to actively control and precisely manipulate system parameters in situ, and the feasibility to acquire large Kerr nonlinearity based on the resonance character between light and atoms. In this article, we review various schemes for the realization of $ \mathcal PT $ symmetry with coherent atomic gases, elucidate their interesting properties and promising applications. In particular, the non-linear optical effect in the $ \mathcal PT $-symmetric atomic gases are described, which may be served as useful building blocks for developing novel photonic devices with active light control at very low power level.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23746149.2017.1352457Parity-time symmetrycoherent atomic gasesnon-linear optical effect |
| spellingShingle | Chao Hang Guoxiang Huang Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases Advances in Physics: X Parity-time symmetry coherent atomic gases non-linear optical effect |
| title | Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases |
| title_full | Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases |
| title_fullStr | Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases |
| title_short | Parity-time symmetry with coherent atomic gases |
| title_sort | parity time symmetry with coherent atomic gases |
| topic | Parity-time symmetry coherent atomic gases non-linear optical effect |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23746149.2017.1352457 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chaohang paritytimesymmetrywithcoherentatomicgases AT guoxianghuang paritytimesymmetrywithcoherentatomicgases |