Nondecaying linear and nonlinear modes in a periodic array of spatially localized dissipations

Abstract: We demonstrate the existence of extremely weakly decaying linear and nonlinear modes (i.e. modes immune to dissipation) in the one-dimensional periodic array of identical spatially localized dissipations, where the dissipation width is much smaller than the period of the array. We consider wave propagation governed by the one-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation in the array of identical Gaussian-shaped dissipations with three parameters, the integral dissipation strength $\Gamma_0$, the width $\sigma$ and the array period $d$. In the linear case, setting $\sigma\to0$, while keeping $\Gamma_0$ fixed, we get an array of zero-width dissipations given by the Dirac delta-functions, i.e. the complex Kroning-Penney model, where an infinite number of nondecaying modes appear with the Bloch index being either at the center, $k= 0$, or at the boundary, $k= \pi/d $, of an analog of the Brillouin zone. By using numerical simulations we confirm that the weakly decaying modes persist for $\sigma$ such that $\sigma/d\ll1$ and have the same Bloch index. The nondecaying modes persist also if a real-valued periodic potential is added to the spatially periodic array of dissipations, with the period of the dissipative array being multiple of that of the periodic potential. We also consider evolution of the soliton-shaped pulses in the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation with the spatially periodic dissipative lattice and find that when the pulse width is much larger than the lattice period and its wave number $k$ is either at the center, $k= 2\pi/d$, or at the boundary, $k= \pi/d $, a significant fraction of the pulse escapes the dissipation forming a stationary nonlinear mode with the soliton shaped envelope and the Fourier spectrum consisting of two peaks centered at $k $ and $-k$.