Asymmetric light transmission by using 2D PT-symmetric photonic nanostructure

Abstract

We propose for the first time a simple realization of a two-dimensional Parity-Time symmetric hexagonal shaped photonic structure composed of honeycomb lattice. The structure has a symmetric periodic modulation of the refractive index on the wavelength scale, which is combined with an anti-symmetric gain/loss distribution on the same scale. That leads to non-reciprocal light coupling at resonant frequencies. The design of the realistic structure is based on a simple physical concept: alternating low index cylinders with gain and loss in a honeycomb configuration, embedded in a higher index dielectric background.