Scaling theory of absorption in the frozen mode regime.

A stationary inflection point (SIP) of the Bloch dispersion relation of a periodic system is a prominent example of an exceptional point degeneracy (EPD) where three Bloch eigenmodes coalesce. The scattering problem for a bounded photonic structure supporting a SIP features the frozen mode regime (FMR), where the incident wave is converted into the "frozen mode" with vanishing group velocity and diverging amplitude. We analyze the effect of losses and disorder on the FMR and develop a scaling formalism for the absorbance in the FMR that takes into consideration losses, disorder, and system size. The signatures of the EPD appear as an abrupt growth of absorbance for system sizes greater than a characteristic length that follows a parallel resistance law involving the absorption length and the Anderson localization length.

Reconfigurable directional lasing modes in cavities with generalized PT symmetry.

We introduce a new family of generalized PT-symmetric cavities that involve gyrotropic elements and support reconfigurable unidirectional lasing modes. We derive conditions for which these modes exist and investigate a simple electronic circuit that experimentally demonstrates their feasibility in the radio-frequency domain.

Optical isolation via 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetric nonlinear Fano resonances.

We show that Fano resonances created by two 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetric nonlinear micro-resonators coupled to a waveguide, have line-shape and resonance position that depends on the direction of the incident light. We utilize these features in order to induce asymmetric transport, up to 47 dBs, in the optical C-window. Our theoretical proposal requires low input power and does not compromise the power or frequency characteristics of the output signal.

Unidirectional lasing emerging from frozen light in nonreciprocal cavities.

We introduce a class of unidirectional lasing modes associated with the frozen mode regime of nonreciprocal slow-wave structures. Such asymmetric modes can only exist in cavities with broken time-reversal and space inversion symmetries. Their lasing frequency coincides with a spectral stationary inflection point of the underlying passive structure and is virtually independent of its size. These unidirectional lasers can be indispensable components of photonic integrated circuitry.

Superballistic growth of the variance of optical wave packets.

We experimentally demonstrate that hybrid ordered-disordered photonic lattices can generate faster than the ballistic growth of the second moment of a spreading wave packet for parametrically large time intervals.

Observation of asymmetric transport in structures with active nonlinearities.

A mechanism for asymmetric transport which is based on parity-time-symmetric nonlinearities is presented. We show that in contrast to the case of conservative nonlinearities, an increase of the complementary conductance strength leads to a simultaneous increase of asymmetry and transmittance intensity. We experimentally demonstrate the phenomenon using a pair of coupled Van der Pol oscillators as a reference system, each with complementary anharmonic gain and loss conductances, connected to transmission lines. An equivalent optical setup is also proposed.

Failure of random matrix theory to correctly describe quantum dynamics.

Consider a classically chaotic system that is described by a Hamiltonian H(0). At t=0 the Hamiltonian undergoes a sudden change (H)0-->H. We consider the quantum-mechanical spreading of the evolving energy distribution, and argue that it cannot be analyzed using a conventional random-matrix theory (RMT) approach. Conventional RMT can be trusted only to the extent that it gives trivial results that are implied by first-order perturbation theory. Nonperturbative effects are sensitive to the underlying classical dynamics, and therefore the Planck's over 2 pi-->0 behavior for effective RMT models is strikingly different from the correct semiclassical limit.

Superballistic spreading of wave packets.

We demonstrate for various systems that the variance of a wave packet M(t) proportional to t(nu), can show a superballistic increase with 2 < nu < or = 3, for parametrically large time intervals. A model is constructed that explains this phenomenon and its predictions are verified numerically for various disordered and quasiperiodic systems.

Taming chaos by impurities in two-dimensional oscillator arrays.

The effect of impurities in a two-dimensional lattice of coupled nonlinear chaotic oscillators and their ability to control the dynamical behavior of the system are studied. We show that a single impurity can produce synchronized spatiotemporal patterns, even though all oscillators and the impurity are chaotic when uncoupled. When a small number of impurities is arranged in a way, that the lattice is divided into two disjoint parts, synchronization is enforced even for small coupling. The synchronization is not affected as the size of the lattice increases, although the impurity concentration tends to zero.

Parametric dependent Hamiltonians, wave functions, random matrix theory, and quantal-classical correspondence.

We study a classically chaotic system that is described by a Hamiltonian H(Q,P;x), where (Q,P) are the canonical coordinates of a particle in a two-dimensional well, and x is a parameter. By changing x we can deform the "shape" of the well. The quantum eigenstates of the system are /n(x)>. We analyze numerically how the parametric kernel P(n/m)=//(2) evolves as a function of delta(x)[triple bond](x-x(0)). This kernel, regarded as a function of n-m, characterizes the shape of the wave functions, and it also can be interpreted as the local density of states. The kernel P(n/m) has a well-defined classical limit, and the study addresses the issue of quantum-classical correspondence. Both the perturbative and the nonperturbative regimes are explored. The limitations of the random matrix theory approach are demonstrated.

Quantum-mechanical nonperturbative response of driven chaotic mesoscopic systems

Consider a time-dependent Hamiltonian H(Q,P;x(t)) with periodic driving x(t) = Asin(Omegat). It is assumed that the classical dynamics is chaotic, and that its power spectrum extends over some frequency range |omega|A(prt), where A(prt) approximately Planck's over 2pi, the system may have a relatively strong response for Omega>omega(cl) due to QM nonperturbative effect.

Statistics of resonances and of delay times in quasiperiodic Schrodinger equations

We study the distributions of the resonance widths P(gamma) and of delay times P(tau) in one-dimensional quasiperiodic tight-binding systems at critical conditions with one open channel. Both quantities are found to decay algebraically as gamma(-alpha) and tau(-gamma) on small and large scales, respectively. The exponents alpha and gamma are related to the fractal dimension D(E)(0) of the spectrum of the closed system as alpha = 1+D(E)(0) and gamma = 2-D(E)(0). Our results are verified for the Harper model at the metal-insulator transition and for Fibonacci lattices.

Wave packet dynamics in energy space, random matrix theory, and the quantum-classical correspondence

We apply random-matrix-theory (RMT) to the analysis of evolution of wave packets in energy space. We study the crossover from ballistic behavior to saturation, the possibility of having an intermediate diffusive behavior, and the feasibility of strong localization effect. Both theoretical considerations and numerical results are presented. Using quantal-classical correspondence considerations we question the validity of the emerging dynamical picture. In particular, we claim that the appearance of the intermediate diffusive behavior is possibly an artifact of the RMT strategy.

Chaotic scattering on graphs

Quantized, compact graphs are excellent paradigms for quantum chaos in bounded systems. Connecting them with leads to infinity, we show that they display all the features which characterize quantum chaotic scattering. We derive exact expressions for the scattering matrix, and an exact trace formula for the density of resonances, in terms of classical orbits, analogous to the semiclassical theory of chaotic scattering. A statistical analysis of the cross sections and resonance parameters compares well with the predictions of random matrix theory. Hence, this system is proposed as a convenient tool to study the generic behavior of chaotic scattering systems and their semiclassical description.