Discrete solitons and vortices on two-dimensional lattices of PT-symmetric couplers

We introduce a 2D network built of PT -symmetric dimers with on-site cubic nonlinearity, the gain and loss elements of the dimers being linked by parallel square-shaped lattices. The system may be realized as a set of PT -symmetric dual-core waveguides embedded into a photonic crystal. The system supports PT -symmetric and antisymmetric fundamental solitons (FSs) and on-site-centered solitary vortices (OnVs). Stability of these discrete solitons is the central topic of the consideration. Their stability regions in the underlying parameter space are identified through the computation of stability eigenvalues, and verified by direct simulations. Symmetric FSs represent the system's ground state, being stable at lowest values of the power, while anti-symmetric FSs and OnVs are stable at higher powers. Symmetric OnVs, which are also stable at lower powers, are remarkably robust modes: on the contrary to other PT -symmetric states, unstable OnVs do not blow up, but spontaneously rebuild themselves into stable FSs. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America