Phase transition through the splitting of self-dual spectral singularity in optical potentials

Abstract: We consider optical media which feature antilinear symmetries. We show that: (i) spectral singularities of such media (if any) are always self-dual, i.e., correspond to CPA-lasers; (ii) under the change of a system's parameter the self-dual spectral singularity may split into a pair of isolated complex conjugate eigenvalues, which corresponds to an unconventional and overlooked in the most of previous studies scenario of the phase transition (known as $PT$-symmetry breaking in systems obeying parity-time symmetry); (iii) if the antilinear symmetry is local, i.e., does not involve any spatial reflection, then no spectral singularity is possible. Our findings are illustrated with several examples including a $PT$-symmetric bilayer and other complex potentials discussed in recent literature.