Odd-time reversal $PT$ symmetry induced by anti-$PT$-symmetric medium

Abstract: We introduce an optical system (a coupler) obeying parity-time ($PT$) symmetry with odd-time reversal, $T^2=-1$. It is implemented with two birefringent waveguides embedded in an anti-$PT$-symmetric medium. The system possesses properties which are untypical for most physical systems with the conventional even-time reversal. Having symmetry-protected degeneracy of the linear modes, the coupler allows for realization of a coherent switch operating with a superposition of binary states which are distinguished by their polarizations. When a Kerr nonlinearity is taken into account, each linear state, being double degenerated, bifurcates into several distinct nonlinear modes, some of which are dynamically stable. The nonlinear modes are characterized by amplitude and by polarization and come in $PT$-conjugate pairs.