Spectral singularity enhances transverse spin

Abstract We study the transverse spin and the Belinfante spin momentum in a gain–loss balanced waveguide, known to be one of the first and most studied examples of PT -symmetric systems. Such a guide supports the spectral singularities leading to infinite scattering amplitudes for both reflection and transmission. We show that near the spectral singularity there can be dramatic enhancement of the transverse spin and the transverse spin momentum. Note that these exotic spin and spin momentum have recently been observed experimentally despite having tiny magnitudes, making it worthy to explore ways and means to enhance these fundamentally important elusive quantities.