Competing PT potentials and re-entrant PT symmetric phase for a particle in a box

We investigate the effects of competition between two complex, $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric potentials on the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric phase of a "particle in a box". These potentials, given by $V_Z(x)=iZ\mathrm{sign}(x)$ and $V_ξ(x)=iξ[δ(x-a)-δ(x+a)]$, represent long-range and localized gain/loss regions respectively. We obtain the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric phase in the $(Z,ξ)$ plane, and find that for locations $\pm a$ near the edge of the box, the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric phase is strengthened by additional losses to the loss region. We also predict that a broken $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry will be restored by increasing the strength $ξ$ of the localized potential. By comparing the results for this problem and its lattice counterpart, we show that a robust $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric phase in the continuum is consistent with the fragile phase on the lattice. Our results demonstrate that systems with multiple, $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric potentials show unique, unexpected properties.

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