Linear and nonlinear Zeno effects in an optical coupler

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that controlled losses in an optical coupler can produce linear and nonlinear Zeno effects, leading to increased transparency with higher dissipation, and proposes an experimental setup using chalcogenide glasses.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of optical Zeno effects in a simple coupler with controlled losses and discusses experimental realization using chalcogenide glasses.

Findings

Observation of optical linear and nonlinear Zeno effects.

Demonstration of transparency enhancement with increased dissipation.

Proposal for experimental realization using chalcogenide glasses.

Abstract

It is shown that in a simple coupler where one of the waveguides is subject to controlled losses of the electric field, it is possible to observe optical analog of the linear and nonlinear quantum Zeno effects. The phenomenon consists in a counter-intuitive enhancement of transparency of the coupler with the increase of the dissipation and represents an optical analogue of the quantum Zeno effect. Experimental realization of the phenomenon based on the use of the chalcogenide glasses is proposed. The system allows for observation of the cross-over between the linear and nonlinear Zeno effects, as well as effective manipulation of light transmission through the coupler.