Coherent virtual absorption for discretized light

TL;DR

This paper explores a new form of coherent virtual absorption in discretized light systems, revealing phenomena not explained by traditional scattering matrix analysis, thus expanding understanding of light-matter interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel type of CVA in discretized light transport that is not linked to complex zeros of the scattering matrix, challenging existing theoretical frameworks.

Findings

Discretized light in coupled resonator waveguides exhibits a new CVA phenomenon.

Traditional scattering matrix analysis does not fully explain this CVA.

The results suggest alternative mechanisms for light absorption phenomena.

Abstract

Coherent virtual absorption (CVA) is a recently-introduced phenomenon for which exponentially growing waves incident onto a conservative optical medium are neither reflected nor transmitted, at least transiently. CVA has been associated to complex zeros of the scattering matrix and can be regarded as the time reversal of the decay process of a quasi-mode sustained by the optical medium. Here we consider CVA for discretized light transport in coupled resonator optical waveguides or waveguide arrays and show that a distinct kind of CVA, which is not related to complex zero excitation of quasi-modes, can be observed. This result suggests that scattering matrix analysis can not fully capture CVA phenomena.