Tunable nonlinear parity-time-symmetric defect modes with an atomic cell

We propose a scheme of creating a tunable highly nonlinear defect in a one-dimensional photonic crystal. The defect consists of an atomic cell filled in with two isotopes of three-level atoms. The probe-field refractive index of the defect can be made parity-time (PT) symmetric, which is achieved by proper combination of a control field and of Stark shifts induced by a far-off-resonance field. In the PT-symmetric system, families of stable nonlinear defect modes can be formed by the probe field. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America