Inhomogeneous losses and complexness of wave functions in chaotic cavities

TL;DR

This paper analytically links inhomogeneous ohmic losses in chaotic microwave cavities to the complex nature of wave functions, supporting recent experimental observations of mode broadening effects.

Contribution

It provides an analytic framework connecting inhomogeneous damping to wave function complexity in chaotic cavities, advancing understanding of wave behavior under losses.

Findings

Different mode broadenings due to inhomogeneous losses

Analytic description of wave function complexness

Confirmation of experimental results on wave function biorthogonality

Abstract

In a two-dimensional microwave chaotic cavity ohmic losses located at the contour of the cavity result in different broadenings of different modes. We provide an analytic description and establish the link between such an inhomogeneous damping and the complex (non-real) character of biorthogonal wave functions. This substantiates the corresponding recent experimental findings of Barthelemy et al. [Europhys. Lett. 70, 162 (2005)].