Abstract

Symmetry breaking of solitons in a class of one-dimensional parity-time ($P\mathcal{T}$) symmetric complex potentials with cubic nonlinearity is reported. In generic $P\mathcal{T}$-symmetric potentials, such symmetry breaking is forbidden. However, in a special class of $P\mathcal{T}$-symmetric potentials $V(x)=g^2(x)+\alpha g(x)+i{g}^{\prime }(x)$, where $g(x)$ is a real and even function and $\alpha$ a real constant, symmetry breaking of solitons can occur. That is, a branch of non-$P\mathcal{T}$-symmetric solitons can bifurcate out from the base branch of $P\mathcal{T}$-symmetric solitons when the base branch’s power reaches a certain threshold. At the bifurcation point, the base branch changes stability, and the bifurcated branch can be stable.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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