Bragg-induced power oscillations in PT symmetric periodic photonic structures

Abstract: We study Bragg-induced power oscillations in Fourier space between a pair of optical resonant transverse modes propagating through a periodic PT symmetric lattice, represented by a refractive index that includes gain and loss in a balanced way. Our results imply that the PT-symmetric system shows exceptionally rich phenomena absent in its Hermitian counterpart. It is demonstrated that the resonant modes exhibit unique characteristics such as Bragg power oscillations controlled via the PT symmetry, severe asymmetry in mode dynamics, and trapped enhanced transmission. We have also performed numerical simulations in (1+1) and (2+1) dimensions of propagating Gaussian beams to compare with analytical calculations developed under a two-waves model.