Transmission across a ribbon containing a square [formula omitted] impurity.

We study the spectrum and transmission coefficient of plane waves propagating along square ribbons of varying widths, containing a square-shaped, PT -symmetric impurity region. We start with a zero-width ribbon (1D chain) and place a PT symmetric dimer. The spectrum is computed numerically and the instability gain is computed as a function of the gain/loss dimer strength. The transmission coefficient is obtained in closed form and examined as a function of wavevector and the gain/loss parameter. Next, we study a ribbon in a narrow ladder configuration containing a square PT impurity. As before, we compute the instability gain numerically and the transmission coefficient in closed form for the two possible input modes. Finally, we repeat the calculations for a wider ladder ribbon containing a Lieb-like impurity in a PT configuration. For all cases and transmission channels, we obtain transmission divergences in wavevector-gain/loss parameter space, whose number increases with the width of the ribbon. • PT -symmetry. • Ribbon lattice. • Square-shaped PT impurity. • Instability rate. • Transmission coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]