Asymmetrical splitting in the spectrum of stochastic radiation scattered by non-Hermitian materials having PT symmetry

The scattering of partially coherent radiation by a localized continuous material having parity-time (PT) symmetry is considered under the formalism of classical coherence theory and the assumption that the Born approximation is valid. Our results suggest that the correlation-induced spectral changes are strongly dependent upon the gain and loss properties of the material. In particular, the center frequency of the scattered radiation undergoes a discontinuity as a function of the non-Hermitian parameter characterizing the physical properties of the material. The physical reason behind this abrupt behavior is that the PT symmetry induces the creation of two asymmetrical frequency bands inside the original Hermitian spectrum. We describe how this splitting occurs and offer possibilities to dynamically characterize the scattered spectrum.