Beam propagation in gain–loss balanced waveguides

Linear and nonlinear localized modes of a slab waveguide with distributed gain and loss are studied. The structure is an optical analog of parity-time symmetric potentials in quantum mechanics. Such waveguide structures support stable localized modes. The explicit equation for the propagation constant of linear modes is obtained. The existence of stable nonlinear modes in such waveguides is demonstrated. Bend losses in such structures are analyzed.