Exceptional, but Separate: Precursors to Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex relationship between spontaneous symmetry breaking and exceptional points in nonlinear optical systems, revealing they do not always coincide and emphasizing the need for careful analysis of their correlation.

Contribution

It demonstrates that SSB and EPs can occur independently in nonlinear optics, challenging the assumption of their inherent link and suggesting a more general principle.

Findings

SSB and EPs can occur at different parameter points

Decoupling observed across multiple optical platforms

Implications for theoretical and applied optics

Abstract

Spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) and exceptional points (EPs) are often assumed to be inherently linked. Here we investigate the intricate relationship between SSB and specific classes of EPs across three distinct, real-world scenarios in nonlinear optics. In these systems, the two phenomena do not coincide for all classes of EPs; they can occur at dislocated points in parameter space. This recurring behavior across disparate platforms implies that such decoupling is not unique to these optical systems, but likely reflects a more general principle. Our results highlight the need for careful analysis of assumed correlations between SSB and EPs in both theoretical and applied contexts. They deepen our understanding of nonlinear dynamics in optical systems and prompt a broader reconsideration of contexts where EPs and SSB are thought to be interdependent.