Scattering properties of PT-symmetric objects

TL;DR

This paper explores how PT-symmetric structures scatter light, revealing unique deflection behaviors and anisotropic patterns due to energy flow between gain and loss regions, along with a modified optical theorem.

Contribution

It introduces a modified optical theorem for PT-symmetric systems and analyzes their anisotropic and angle-dependent scattering properties.

Findings

PT-symmetric objects can deflect light in unusual ways

Scattering patterns are highly anisotropic and angle-dependent

A modified optical theorem for PT-symmetric systems is derived

Abstract

We investigate the scattering response of parity-time (PT) symmetric structures. We show that, due to the local flow of energy between gain and loss regions, such systems can deflect light in unusual ways, as a function of the gain/loss contrast. Such structures are highly anisotropic and their scattering patterns can drastically change as a function of the angle of incidence. In addition, we derive a modified optical theorem for PT-symmetric scattering systems, and discuss its ramifications.