Energy-leaky modes in partially measured scattering matrices of disordered media

TL;DR

This paper explores how incomplete measurements of scattering matrices in disordered media lead to energy-leaky modes, affecting energy transmission and control in optical systems.

Contribution

It reveals the effects of partial measurement on energy-leaky modes and their impact on transmission enhancement in complex media.

Findings

Leaky modes from uncollected transmission can enhance energy transmission.

Leaky modes from uncollected reflection suppress transmission in zero-reflection channels.

Transmission enhancement is limited to about 5-fold in practical optical systems.

Abstract

We investigate energy-leaky modes induced by incomplete measurements of the scattering matrices of complex media. Due to the limited numerical apertures of an optical system, it is experimentally challenging to access theoretically predicted perfect transmission channels in the diffusive regime. By conducting numerical simulations on scattering matrices, we demonstrate that leaky modes contributed from uncollected transmission in the TM provides an energy transmission that is more enhanced than that predicted by measurement. On the other hand, a leaky mode originating from the uncollected reflection in the partial measurement of a RM strongly suppresses the energy transmission through a zero-reflection channel, restricting the transmission enhancement to no more than a 5-fold enhancement in limited optical systems. Our study provides useful insights into the effective control of energy delivery through scattering media and its ultimate limitation in practical schemes.