Abstract

Classical Rabi oscillations (ROs) are a signature feature of an unbroken parity-time (PT)-symmetry in conservative systems. Notwithstanding, they do not persist in systems with intrinsic dissipation from the surroundings. Here, we report permanent ROs in a parametrically driven and dissipative nonlinear dimer in a region of parameters where the conservative system exhibits broken PT-symmetry. We show that the mechanism for robust ROs lies in a suitable combination of typical gain/loss (PT-symmetry) configuration with nonlinearity and dissipation. This study presents a route to generate and control robust ROs in out-of-equilibrium systems in future experiments. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd