Solvable PT-symmetric model with a tunable interspersion of non-merging levels

Abstract

We study the spectrum in such a PT-symmetric square well of a diameter L where the "strength of the non-Hermiticity" is controlled by the two parameters, viz., by an imaginary coupling ig and by the distance d of its onset from the origin. We solve this problem and confirm that the spectrum is discrete and real in a non-empty interval of g. Surprisingly, a specific distinction between the bound states is found in their asymptotic stability/instability with respect to an unlimited growth of g. In our model, all of the low-lying levels remain asymptotically unstable at the small d and finite L while only the stable levels survive for d near L or in the purely imaginary well with infinite L. In between these two extremes, an unusual and tunable, variable pattern of the interspersed "robust" and "fragile" subspectra of the real levels is obtained.