Asymmetric diffraction in anti-parity-time symmetry of non-Hermitian photonic lattice

Non-Hermitian systems based on anti-parity-time (PT) symmetry reveal rich physics beyond the Hermitian regime. Here, the anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice is effectively achieved in a four-level inverted Y-type 85Rb atomic vapor. Such instantaneously reconfigurable anti-PT-symmetric photonic lattice possessing susceptibility of χ(x)=−χ∗(−x), is established by a one-dimensional standing-wave coupling field under the assist of a standing-wave driving field. The input probe beam experiences a periodic refractive index modulation when traveling through the photonic lattice, the evolution of output diffraction patterns with symmetric, asymmetric, and lopsided intensity distribution is obtained by adjusting the relevant parameters of constructed non-Hermitian system. Moreover, the anti-PT symmetry in two-dimensional case of both square and hexagonal lattices are correspondingly realized. Our work promotes the development of non-Hermitian devices, and also has some important applications in quantum simulation.