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PhysRevLett 127 014301
PhysRevLett 127 014301
Parity-time (PT) symmetry, satisfied when a system commutes under combined parity and time-reversal
operations, enables extreme optical responses in non-Hermitian systems with balanced distributions of gain
and loss. In this Letter, we propose a different path for PT symmetry utilizing the evanescent field excitation
of anti-PT-symmetric structures, which anticommute with the PT operator and do not necessarily require
gain. Beyond offering a robust platform to explore PT symmetry, our study showcases an important link
between non-Hermitian physics and near-field interactions, with implications in nanophotonics, plas-
monics, and acoustics for nanoimaging, sensing, and communications.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.014301
Under the general framework of non-Hermitian physics, Along a different research line, near-field wave physics
parity-time (PT) symmetry has opened powerful opportu- has been extensively explored in the last decades [28], in
nities [1] for intriguing wave manipulations not available in connection with advances in near-field microscopy and
Hermitian setups. Such examples include robust wireless nanofabrication techniques. Here, evanescent fields play a
power transfer [2], anisotropic transmission resonances critical role, offering the possibility to go beyond the
(ATR) and unidirectional invisibility [3–5], laser-absorber diffraction limit in imaging systems [29] and to surpass
pairs [6–7], among several others. These features have been the blackbody limit in radiative heat transfer [30–37], with
showcased in a wide range of classical settings, from promising applications in thermophotovoltaics [38–41] and
photonics [8] and plasmonics [9–10] to metamaterials thermal management [42–44]. Also in acoustics, near-field
[11–13], as reviewed in [14]. As a different but related physics has been offering interesting opportunities to
phenomenon, anti-PT symmetry has also been drawing engage the transverse spin of evanescent waves for near-
increased attention in recent years. While PT-symmetric field directional coupling [45–50], important for acoustic
Hamiltonians commute with the joint parity-time operator, communications and sensing.
anti-PT-symmetric ones anticommute with it. In contrast In this Letter, we explore the opportunities enabled by
with PT-symmetric systems, whose implementation near-field physics and evanescent field excitations in anti-
requires a precise balance between loss and gain distribu- PT-symmetric systems. We find that effective steady-state
tions [14], systems respecting anti-PT symmetry do not PT-symmetric phenomena are enabled in these structures
necessarily need gain [15–17], and support other interesting when excited by evanescent fields, overcoming the need for
features, e.g., constant refraction [18], energy-difference balanced loss and gain or for controlled release of stored
conserving dynamics [19], and asymmetric mode switching energy [51–52], and overcoming the limitations of pseudo-
for symmetry-broken modes [20]. Given their easier imple- PT-symmetric phenomena in passive systems [25–27]. Our
mentation, various experimental platforms realizing anti-PT study not only enriches near-field physics and provides new
symmetry have emerged in rapid succession in the past strategies for near-field manipulation based on PT sym-
years, ranging from atomic vapors [21], electrical circuits metry in simple photonic setups, but it also opens a
[19], and diffusive systems [22], to coupled optical wave- pathway to shed light into non-Hermitian phenomena using
guides [20], microcavities [23], and optical fibers [24], near-field technology.
offering different approaches to enable the required coupling Scattering in anti-PT-symmetric coupled resonators
mechanism for effective anti-PT-symmetric Hamiltonians. systems.—We start by considering a pair of coupled
The lack of gain, however, prevents some of the most resonator optical waveguides (CROWs) [53–54] connected
exciting features of PT-symmetric structures, as they are through two different coupled resonators, as sketched in
bounded by energy conservation and passivity constraints. Fig. 1(a). For convenience of notation, we set the zero
These challenges are shared with recent proposals to observe frequency to the resonator frequency in the CROWs. The
phenomena reminiscent of PT symmetry in passive systems, resulting dispersion relation is ω ¼ −2 cos k with angular
by either modulating loss distributions in space [25,26] or by frequency ω and wave number k in units of the interreso-
invoking slowly decaying modes [27]. nator coupling coefficient and the inverse of the CROW
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PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 127, 014301 (2021)
the ATR phenomenon not only is allowed in our scenario, Correspondingly, in this evanescent wave regime our
but it also exhibits intriguing new features in terms of system supports the typical scattering phase transition of
energy transfer compared to ordinary PT-symmetric sys- PT-symmetric systems, arising when the eigenvalues of S in
tems. While for excitation from one side, ATR for evan- Eq. (2) go through an EP, going from being an individually
escent waves completely suppresses reflection and thus unimodular (PT-unbroken phase) to an inverse-conjugate
energy flow, from the opposite port the ATR induces a pair (PT-broken phase) [7,68]. The evolution of the
strong reflection and thus opens a channel for unidirec- eigenvalues of S with Δ̂ ∈ ð0; 6Þ is shown in Fig. 2(b),
tional energy flow, offering unique opportunities for robust highlighting the emergence of an EP and a phase transition,
near-field energy transfer and sensors that are bound to occurring at Δ̂ ¼ 1 independent of the specific values of
extract energy only from the side of the object to be sensed. γ=κ and cr =κ.
In our structure excited with evanescent inputs, the In order to verify these predictions in a realistic system,
condition rR ¼ 0 combined with passivity and Eq. (2) we performed full-wave simulations of a fully
requires the matching conditions γ ¼ κ and Δ ¼ cr . In this passive electronic circuit implementing the response of
scenario, indeed we find an ATR, with transmission tS ¼ 1 Fig. 1(a) using Advanced Design System (ADS), as
and left reflection rL ¼ 2jcr =κ. Note that the S matrix in detailed in [55]. The retrieved scattering coefficients
Eq. (2), and thus the scattering parameters, univocally and eigenvalues are shown in Fig. 2 with symbols, in
depend on three ratios: Δ̂ ≡ Δ=κ, γ=κ, and cr =κ. In Fig. 2 clear agreement with the theoretical predictions based on
(a), we fix γ=κ ¼ cr =κ ¼ 1, and show the evolution of rL , our Hamiltonian model. The simulation details together
rR , and tS in the complex plane as a function of Δ̂ ∈ ð0; 6Þ with the steady-state time dependent signals and field
(see color bar). When Δ̂ ¼ 0 (symmetric scatterer), the profiles at the ATR point are given in [55]. At the phase
left and right reflections are equal, as expected, transition, a sublinear variation of the eigenvalue
rL ¼ rR ¼ ð1pþffiffiffi2jÞ=5, which is crossed by the trajectory dispersion with Δ̂ indicates interesting opportunities for
of tS at Δ̂ ¼ 5. The ATR (tS ¼ 1, rR ¼ 0, and rL ¼ 2j) sensing, as achieved in several PT-symmetric scenarios in
recent years [69–71]. Yet, here the considered geometry
occurs for Δ̂ ¼ 1 (red arrows), for which the magnitude of
with γ ¼ κ > 0 is fully passive, and PT symmetry is
rL is larger than unity.
enabled by its excitation with evanescent waves. This
As we vary the frequency detuning Δ from Δ2 < κ2 to
opens unique opportunities for noninvasive near-field
Δ > κ2 , the scatterer in Fig. 1(a) transitions from its PT-
2
sensing with superior performance.
symmetric phase to the PT-symmetry-broken phase,
Scattering of evanescent waves in anti-PT symmetric
depending on whether the eigenstates of Heff (or equiv-
photonic heterostructures.—Having determined how evan-
alently HðAPTÞ ) are individually eigenstates of the PT escent waves can enable PT-symmetric features when
operator [18]. Interestingly, by exploiting evanescent wave exciting suitably tailored passive systems, we turn our
excitations, this precise phase transition can be demon- attention to photonic heterostructures that may enable this
strated in a fully passive scenario for any γ ≥ jκj [55]. functionality in free space (with permittivity ε0 and
permeability μ0 ), in connection with the geometry in
Fig. 1(b) and with a broad range of near-field imaging
setups. We assume a pair of conjugate slabs [66], for
instance a double-positive slab with a balanced double-
negative slab of equal thickness h, with relative permittivity
and permeability ε1 ¼ ε0 − jε00, μ1 ¼ μ0 − jμ00 and
ε2 ¼ −ε0 − jε00 , μ2 ¼ −μ0 − jμ00 , where both ε0 and μ00
are positive. This structure generalizes the scenario con-
sidered in Pendry’s superlens by incorporating an
equal level of material loss ½ε00 ; μ00 > 0 or gain [67],
corresponding to the first proposal of an anti-PT symmetric
structure [15].
Without loss of generality, consider now the excitation of
FIG. 2. Effective PT-symmetric response for evanescent waves
in Fig. 1(a): variations in the complex plane of (a) scattering this system by transverse-electric waves incident in
parameters and (b) eigenvalues, associated with the S matrix in the xz plane [55]. The total transfer matrix M tot can be
Eq. (2), as Δ̂ increases from 0 to 6, see the color bar. Red arrows written as [55]
indicate Δ̂ ¼ 1 and the black dashed lines represent reference unit
circles centered at the origin. Other parameters are M tot ¼ L−1 Pð2Þ Pð1Þ L; ð3Þ
γ=κ ¼ cr =κ ¼ 1. In the same figure, the corresponding results
retrieved from ADS simulation of a fully passive circuit corre- obtained from the continuity of the tangential electric
sponding to Fig. 1(a)[55], are indicated by various symbols. and magnetic fields, and it involves the multiplication of
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PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 127, 014301 (2021)
the transmission matrices PðnÞ of each slab n ¼ 1, 2 with imaging [73], can be directly connected with the effective
the resolving matrix L (and its inverse L−1 ) for the PT-symmetric features of these systems and their ATR
tangential fields. For evanescent wave excitation, the features supported by evanescent wave excitation of anti-
ð0Þ PT-symmetric structures [74]. Conversely, we envision that
background axial wave number kz ¼ −jωβ̂=c0 with
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi the connection highlighted here can extend the function-
β̂ ≡ ðkx c0 =ωÞ2 − 1 > 0, c0 ¼ 1= μ0 ϵ0 and kx ∈ R ality of metamaterial superlenses to non-Hermitian scenar-
being the transverse wave number. In this case, Mtot in ios with loss (or gain), and provide new strategies for near-
Eq. (3) can be written as field imaging in diverse platforms based on PT-symmetry
for evanescent waves.
a −jb To gain further insights into the ATR phenomenon
Mtot ¼ ; ð4Þ
jp a in this structure, we studyffi the case μ0 ¼ ε0 ≥ 1 and
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
β̂ ¼ β̂ATR ¼ ε − ε00 μffi00 − 1 > 0, which results in
02
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
where the elements b, p ∈ R, a ∈ C, related by pffiffiffi
k00 ¼ k0 ¼ ε0 ðε00 þ μ00 Þ= 2. As before, we set the left
jaj2 − bp ¼ 1, i.e., det Mtot ¼ 1, stemming from
reciprocity. Like in the previous example, the system reflection rL ¼ 0. For weak loss or gain, i.e., jε00 =ε0 j ≪ 1
supports a PT-symmetric scattering response for evanescent and jμ00 =μ0 j ≪ 1, we obtain the ATR for μ00 ¼ μ00ATR
waves, with the corresponding scattering matrix S ¼ 3ðε02 − 1Þ
μ00ATR ≈ ε00 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi − 1 :
−jp=a 1=a 3ð1 − ε02 − 1ĥε0 Þ þ ðε02 − 1Þð3 þ ĥ2 ε02 Þ
obeying SPT ¼ S−1 . Surprisingly,
1=a −jb=a ð6Þ
for the photonic heterostructure in Fig. 1(b), this
result is valid irrespective of any specific value of In Fig. 3(a), μ00ATR is plotted for ĥ ¼ 1 against its
fβ̂; ε0 ; μ0 ; ε00 ; μ00 g [72], including the scenario with ε0 < 0 numerically calculated value. As expected, near the edge
and μ0 > 0 corresponding to paired epsilon-negative where ε00 is comparable with ε0 , Eq. (6) deviates more
and mu-negative layers [66], and holding also for trans- strongly. Interestingly, we find that the required μ00ATR for
verse-magnetic evanescent waves. ATR is negative, indicating that here the structure requires
We proceed to explore the ATR phenomenon for gain. In addition, μ00ATR and the corresponding reflection
evanescent waves in this setup. To this end, we notice asymmetry Δr at the ATR, shown in Fig. 3(b), approach
that rL ≡ −jp=a ¼ 0 requires that the transmission zero together with ε00 regardless of the specific value of ε0 ,
amplitude jtS j ≡ j1=aj ¼ 1. Correspondingly, the reflec- yielding the scenario of lossless conjugate slabs, like in
tion asymmetry Δr ≡ jrR − rL j with right reflection Pendry’s superlens.
rR ≡ −jb=a is found to be Finally, we show PT-symmetric phase transitions in the
0 00 00 0 0 0 setup of Fig. 1(b) with ĥ ¼ 1 by varying the (normalized)
2ðk μ − k μ Þðk μ þk00 μ00 Þ½cosð2k0 ĥÞ− coshð2k00 ĥÞ decay rate β̂ of the evanescent inputs, which can be
Δr ¼ ;
ðk02 þk002 Þðμ02 þμ002 Þ controlled by the transverse wave number kx. For this
ð5Þ demonstration, we fix ε0 ¼ 1.5 and pick the specific value
where k0 and k00 are the real and imaginary parts of the
ð1;2Þ ð1;2Þ
(normalized) axial wave numbers k̂z ≡ kz c0 =ω ¼
ðnÞ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
k0 ∓ jk00 [with kz ¼ εn μn ω2 =c20 − k2x ] in the n ¼ 1, 2
slab of normalized thickness ĥ ≡ hω=c0 . In the
special scenario corresponding to Pendry’s superlens, when
the material loss or gain is zero, i.e., ε00 ¼ μ00 ¼ 0, the
ð1Þ
reflection asymmetry Δr ¼ 0, since in this case k̂z ¼
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ε0 μ0 − 1 − β̂2 and thus either k0 or k00 is also zero. Indeed,
for Pendry’s superlens, both left and right reflection rL;R ¼
0 and the transmission amplitude tS ¼ 1 with zero phase FIG. 3. 3D plots of (a) the required μ00ATR and (b) the corre-
delay, as confirmed by Eq. (3) after realizing that sponding reflection asymmetry Δr at ATRs versus ε0 and ε00 for
Pð2Þ Pð1Þ ¼ I 2 when ε00 ¼ μ00 ¼ 0. More generally, this evanescent waves in Fig. 1(b). In (a), the unmeshed cyan surface
result shows that the unusual response of conjugate denotes the approximated μ00ATR using Eq. (6). Other common
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
materials when excited with evanescent waves, including parameters are μ0 ¼ ε0 , β̂ ¼ β̂ATR ¼ ε02 − ε00 μ00ATR − 1, and
the evanescent growth responsible for subdiffraction ĥ ¼ 1.
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PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 127, 014301 (2021)
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PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 127, 014301 (2021)
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