Band structures and scattering properties of the simplest one-dimensional $${\mathscr {P}}{\mathscr {T}}$$-symmetric photonic crystal

Abstract

AbstractWe elucidate the band structures and scattering properties of the simplest one-dimensional parity–time ($${\mathscr {P}}{\mathscr {T}}$$ P T )-symmetric photonic crystal. Its unit cell comprises one gain layer and one balanced loss layer. Herein, the analytic expressions of the band structures and scattering properties are derived, and based on these relations, we reveal and explain the following phenomena: Exceptional point pairs appear from Brillouin boundaries at a nonzero non-Hermiticity. With an increase in non-Hermiticity, each of these pairs moves toward the Brillouin center, finally coalescing into a single point at the Brillouin center at a critical non-Hermiticity value. Near the exceptional point, singular scattering is observed and explained. This refers to the phenomenon whereby transmittances and reflectances for left and right incidences reach exceptionally large values simultaneously. Moreover, these are infinite at some discrete points at which poles and zeros of the scattering matrix are attained. In forbidden gaps, unidirectional weak visibility, where transmittances are zero, is disclosed and analyzed: specifically, the reflectance for incidence from one side is very large, whereas that for incidence from the other side is very small. In this phenomenon, the eigenstates of the scattering matrix are the incident waves from the left and right sides, and their eigenvalues are the corresponding reflectances. Our results are important as new functional optical devices can potentially be developed by utilizing these novel phenomena.