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Updated: May 13, 2026

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs
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Published on: June 8, 2018

PT quantum mechanics.

Carl M Bender1, Maarten DeKieviet, S P Klevansky

  • 1Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. cmb@wustl.edu

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|March 20, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Parity-time-symmetric quantum mechanics (PTQM) offers a new physical perspective on balanced loss and gain systems. This field is advancing fundamental physics and applied materials science.

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Area of Science:

  • Quantum mechanics
  • Mathematical physics
  • Materials science

Background:

  • PT-symmetric quantum mechanics (PTQM) has rapidly grown since 1998, with over 1000 papers and 15 conferences.
  • Initially studied mathematically, PTQM now has a simple physical interpretation: balanced loss and gain.
  • The PT phase transition is now intuitively understood without complex mathematics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide readers with the latest advancements in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics.
  • To cover diverse areas of PTQM through mini-reviews.
  • To highlight the emerging and exciting nature of PTQM research.

Main Methods:

  • Mathematical analysis including complex variables, asymptotics, differential equations, and perturbation theory.
  • Experimental investigations of PT-symmetric physical systems.
  • Development of new PT-synthetic materials and observation of PT phase transitions in various physical contexts.

Main Results:

  • A simplified physical picture of PTQM as systems with balanced loss and gain.
  • Intuitive understanding of the PT phase transition.
  • Emerging applications in lasers, optical waveguides, microwave cavities, superconducting wires, and electronic circuits.

Conclusions:

  • PTQM research is progressing on both fundamental and applied fronts.
  • Fundamental research aims to solve outstanding physics problems like dark matter and neutrino oscillations.
  • Applied research focuses on developing novel PT-synthetic materials and observing PT phase transitions in diverse systems.