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The Hermiticity axiom of quantum mechanics guarantees that the energy spectrum is real and the time evolution is unitary (probability-preserving). Nevertheless, non-Hermitian but $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonians may also have real eigenvalues. Systems described by such effective $\mathcal {PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonians have been realized in experiments using coupled systems with balanced loss (dissipation) and gain (amplification), and their corresponding classical dynamics has been studied. A $\mathcal {PT}$-symmetric system emerging from a quantum dynamics is highly desirable, in order to understand what $\mathcal {PT}$-symmetry and the powerful mathematical and physical concepts around it will bring to the next generation of quantum technologies. Here, we address this need by proposing and studying a circuit-QED architecture that consists of two coupled resonators and two qubits (each coupled to one resonator). By means of external driving fields on the qubits, we are able to tune gain and losses in the resonators. Starting with the quantum dynamics of this system, we show the emergence of the $\mathcal {PT}$-symmetry via the selection of both driving amplitudes and frequencies. We engineer the system such that a non-number conserving dipole-dipole interaction emerges, introducing an instability at large coupling strengths. The $\mathcal {PT}$-symmetry and its breaking, as well as the predicted instability in this circuit-QED system can be observed in a transmission experiment., Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures

We discuss the properties of nonlinear localized modes in sawtooth lattices, in the framework of a discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger model with general on-site nonlinearity. Analytic conditions for existence of exact compact three-site solutions are obtained, and explicitly illustrated for the cases of power-law (cubic) and saturable nonlinearities. These nonlinear compact modes appear as continuations of linear compact modes belonging to a flat dispersion band. While for the linear system a compact mode exists only for one specific ratio of the two different coupling constants, nonlinearity may lead to compactification of otherwise non-compact localized modes for a range of coupling ratios, at some specific power. For saturable lattices, the compactification power can be tuned by also varying the nonlinear parameter. Introducing different on-site energies and anisotropic couplings yield further possibilities for compactness tuning. The properties of strongly localized modes are investigated numerically for cubic and saturable nonlinearities, and in particular their stability over large parameter regimes is shown. Since the linear flat band is isolated, its compact modes may be continued into compact nonlinear modes both for focusing and defocusing nonlinearities. Results are discussed in relation to recent realizations of sawtooth photonic lattices., Comment: 12 pages with 11 figures

We demonstrate that stationary localized solutions (discrete solitons) exist in a one dimensional Bose-Hubbard lattices with gain and loss in the semiclassical regime. Stationary solutions, by defi- nition, are robust and do not demand for state preparation. Losses, unavoidable in experiments, are not a drawback, but a necessary ingredient for these modes to exist. The semiclassical calculations are complemented with their classical limit and dynamics based on a Gutzwiller Ansatz. We argue that circuit QED architectures are ideal platforms for realizing the physics developed here. Finally, within the input-output formalism, we explain how to experimentally access the different phases, including the solitons, of the chain., Comment: 10 pages including appendix, 7 figures

In this work, we study long-time wave transport in correlated and uncorrelated disordered 2D arrays. When a separation of dimensions is applied to the model, we find that the predicted 1D random dimer phenomenology also appears in so-called pseudo-2D arrays. Therefore, a threshold behavior is observed in terms of the effective size for eigenmodes, as well as in long-time dynam- ics. For this threshold behavior to be observed a minimum system size is required, what is very important when considering a possible experimental realization. For the long-time evolution, we find that for short-range correlated lattices a super-diffusive long-range transport is observed, while for completely uncorrelated disorder in 2D transport becomes sub-diffusive within the localization length and random binary pseudo-2D arrays show localization., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted for publication

We study the polarization properties of elliptical femtosecond-laser-written waveguides arrays. A new analytical model is presented to explain the asymmetry of the spatial transverse profiles of linearly polarized modes in these waveguides. This asymmetry produces a polarization dependent coupling coefficient, between adjacent waveguides, which strongly affects the propagation of light in a lattice. Our analysis explains how this effect can be exploited to tune the final intensity distribution of light propagated through the array, and links the properties of a polarizing beam splitter in integrated optical circuits to the geometry of the waveguides., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures V2: Section V rewritten

We report on the design, fabrication and characterization of superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators with nanoscopic constrictions. By reducing the size of the center line down to 50 nm, the radio frequency currents are concentrated and the magnetic field in its vicinity is increased. The device characteristics are only slightly modified by the constrictions, with changes in resonance frequency lower than 1% and internal quality factors of the same order of magnitude as the original ones. These devices could enable the achievement of higher couplings to small magnetic samples or even to single molecular spins and have applications in circuit quantum electrodynamics, quantum computing and electron paramagnetic resonance., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

The stationary properties of the Bose-Hubbard model under squeezed dissipation are investigated. The dissipative model does not possess a $U(1)$ symmetry, but parity is conserved: $\langle a_j \rangle \to -\langle a_j \rangle$. We find that $\langle a_j \rangle = 0$ always holds, so no symmetry breaking occurs. Without the onsite repulsion, the linear case is known to be critical. At the critical point the system freezes to an EPR state with infinite two mode entanglement. We show here that the correlations are rapidly destroyed whenever the repulsion is switched on. Then, the system approaches a thermal state with an effective temperature defined in terms of the squeezing parameter in the dissipators. We characterize this transition by means of a Gutzwiller {\it ansatz} and the Gaussian Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

The classical and quantum dynamics of two ultra-strongly coupled and weakly nonlinear resonators cannot be explained using the Discrete Nonlinear Schr\"odinger Equation or the Bose-Hubbard model, respectively. Instead, a model beyond the Rotating Wave Approximation must be studied. In the classical limit this model is not integrable and becomes chaotic for a finite window of parameters. For the quantum dimer we find corresponding regions of stability and chaos. The more striking consequence for both classical and quantum chaos is that the tunneling time between the sites becomes unpredictable. These results, including the transition to chaos, can be tested in experiments with superconducting microwave resonators., Comment: 5+2 pages, 5 figures

We explore the fundamental question of the critical nonlinearity value needed to dynamically localize energy in discrete nonlinear cubic (Kerr) lattices. We focus on the effective frequency and participation ratio of the profile to determine the transition into localization in one-, two-, and three-dimensional lattices. A simple and general criterion is developed, for the case of an initially localized excitation, to define the transition region in parameter space ("dynamical tongue") from a delocalized to a localized profile. We introduce a method for computing the dynamically excited frequencies, which helps us validate our stationary ansatz approach and the effective frequency concept. A general analytical estimate of the critical nonlinearity is obtained, with an extra parameter to be determined.We find this parameter to be almost constant for two-dimensional systems and prove its validity by applying it successfully to two-dimensional binary lattices., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

We show, theoretically and experimentally, the existence of a multi-stable regime in a nonlinear saturable coupler. In spite of its simplicity, we found that this model shows generic and fundamental properties of extended saturable lattices. The study of this basic unit becomes crucial to understand localization mechanisms and dynamical properties of extended discrete nonlinear saturable systems. We theoretically predict the regions of existence of intermediate solutions, and experimentally confirm it by observing a multi-stable propagation regime in a LiNbO3 saturable coupler. This constitutes the first experimental evidence of the existence of these unstable symmetry-broken stationary solutions., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures

We show, theoretically and experimentally, the counterintuitive result that an increase of disorder can result in an enhanced spreading of an initially localized excitation. Moreover, we find that adding a focusing nonlinearity facilitates the expansion of the wave-packet even further by increasing its effective size. We find a clear transition between between the regions of enhanced spreading (weak disorder) and localization (strong localization) described by a "diffusion peak".

We investigate experimentally the light evolution inside a two-dimensional finite periodic array of weakly- coupled optical waveguides with a disordered boundary. For a completely localized initial condition away from the surface, we find that the disordered boundary induces an asymptotic localization in the bulk, centered around the initial position of the input beam., Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures

We study a nonlinear Glauber-Fock lattice and the conditions for the excitation of localized structures. We investigate the particular linear properties of these lattices, including linear localized modes. We investigate numerically nonlinear modes centered in each site of the lattice. We found a strong disagreement of the general tendency between the stationary and the dynamical excitation thresholds, and we give a new definition based on both considerations., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Opt. Lett

We theoretically study the properties of one-dimensional nonlinear saturable photonic lattices exhibiting multiple mobility windows for stationary solutions. The effective energy barrier decreases to a minimum in those power regions where a new intermediate stationary solution appears. As an application, we investigate the dynamics of high-power gaussian-like beams finding several regions where the light transport is enhanced., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Optics Letters

We study the scattering of magnetoinductive plane waves by internal (external) capacitive (inductive) defects coupled to a one-dimensional split-ring resonator array. We examine a number of simple defect configurations where Fano resonances occur and study the behavior of the transmission coefficient as a function of the controllable external parameters. We find that for embedded capacitive defects, the addition of a small amount of coupling to second neighbors is necessary for the occurrence of Fano resonance. For external inductive defects, Fano resonances are commonplace, and they can be tuned by changing the relative orientation or distance between the defect and the SSR array., Comment: 6 double-column pages, 7 figures

We address the problem of directional mobility of discrete solitons in two-dimensional rectangular lattices, in the framework of a discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger model with saturable on-site nonlinearity. A numerical constrained Newton-Raphson method is used to calculate two-dimensional Peierls-Nabarro energy surfaces, which describe a pseudopotential landscape for the slow mobility of coherent localized excitations, corresponding to continuous phase-space trajectories passing close to stationary modes. Investigating the two-parameter space of the model through independent variations of the nonlinearity constant and the power, we show how parameter regimes and directions of good mobility are connected to existence of smooth surfaces connecting the stationary states. In particular, directions where solutions can move with minimum radiation can be predicted from flatter parts of the surfaces. For such mobile solutions, slight perturbations in the transverse direction yield additional transverse oscillations with frequencies determined by the curvature of the energy surfaces, and with amplitudes that for certain velocities may grow rapidly. We also describe how the mobility properties and surface topologies are affected by inclusion of weak lattice anisotropy., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. E

We study a waveguide array with an embedded nonlinear saturable impurity. We solve the impurity problem in closed form and find the nonlinear localized modes. Next, we consider the scattering of a small-amplitude plane wave by a nonlinear impurity mode, and discover regions in parameter space where transmission is fully suppressed. We relate these findings with Fano resonances and propose this setup as a mean to control the transport of light across the array., Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Optics Letters