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Article
Asymmetric wave propagation through nonlinear PT-symmetric oligomers
Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical (2012)
  • J. D’Ambroise
  • Panos Kevrekidis, UMASS, Amherst
  • S. Lepri
Abstract
In the present paper, we consider nonlinear PT-symmetric dimers and trimers (more generally, oligomers) embedded within a linear Schr¨odinger lattice. We examine the stationary states of such chains in the form of plane waves, and analytically compute their reflection and transmission coefficients through the nonlinear PT symmetric oligomer, as well as the corresponding rectification factors which clearly illustrate the asymmetry between left and right propagation in such systems. We examine not only the existence but also the dynamical stability of the plane wave states and interestingly find them to be unstable except in the vicinity of the linear limit. Lastly, we generalize our numerical considerations to themore physically relevant case ofGaussian initial wavepackets and confirm that the asymmetry in the transmission properties persists in the case of such wavepackets, as well. The role of potential asymmetries in the nonlinearity or in the gain/loss pattern is also considered.
Disciplines
Publication Date
October 23, 2012
Publisher Statement
doi:10.1088/1751-8113/45/44/444012
Citation Information
J. D’Ambroise, Panos Kevrekidis and S. Lepri. "Asymmetric wave propagation through nonlinear PT-symmetric oligomers" Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical Vol. 45 Iss. 44 (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/panos_kevrekidis/213/