Analytical results for a spin-orbit coupled atom held in a non-Hermitian double well under synchronous combined modulation

Abstract: We propose a simple method of synchronous combined modulations to generate the exact analytic solutions for a spin-orbit (SO) coupled ultracold atom held in a non-Hermitian double-well potential. Based on the obtained analytical solutions, we mainly study the parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetry of this system and the system stability for both balanced and unbalanced gain-loss between two wells. Under balanced gain and loss, the effect of the proportional constants between synchronous combined modulations and the SO-coupling strength on the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry breaking is revealed analytically. Surprisingly, we find when the Zeeman field is present, the stable spin-flipping tunneling between two wells can not occur in the non-Hermitian SO-coupled ultracold atomic system, but the stable spin-conserving tunneling can be performed. Under unbalanced gain and loss, the unique set of parameter conditions that can cause the system to stabilize is found. The results may provide a possibility for the exact control of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry breaking and quantum spin dynamics in a non-Hermitian SO-coupled system.