Invisible non-Hermitian potentials in discrete-time photonic quantum walks

Abstract

Discrete-time photonic quantum walks on a synthetic lattice, where both spatial and temporal evolution of light are discretized, have recently provided a fascinating platform for the observation of a wealth of non-Hermitian physical phenomena and for the control of light scattering in complex media. A rather open question is whether invisible potentials, analogous to the ones known for continuous optical media, do exist in such discretized systems. Here it is shown that, under certain conditions, slowly drifting Kramers–Kronig potentials behave as invisible potentials in discrete-time photonic quantum walks.