Abstract

We present a fundamental result on the role of time-reversal symmetry in the temporal coupled-mode theory (TCMT). The TCMT is a phenomenological theory that describes resonant wave scattering in photonics, acoustics, and other fields. Modifications to the canonical formulation of the TCMT are required for nonreciprocal devices where time-reversal symmetry is usually absent. We discover that previous results on reciprocity for the TCMT are incomplete, and we provide a mathematical proof to clarify the roles of time-reversal symmetry and reciprocity in the TCMT. The new result leads to a general treatment of nonreciprocity in the TCMT. The theoretical result has many practical applications, including the design of nonreciprocal devices such as optical circulators and isolators.

© 2018 Optical Society of America

Temporal coupled-mode theory for PT-symmetric chiral metasurfaces

Xiaolin Chen, Kai Chen, Yong Zhou, Xiaohui Ma, Wentan Fang, Wei Zhang, Song Huang, Zhongqing Fang, and Weiqing Gao
Opt. Lett. 48(21) 5503-5506 (2023)

One-way surface magnetoplasmon cavity and its application for nonreciprocal devices

Kexin Liu, Amir Torki, and Sailing He
Opt. Lett. 41(4) 800-803 (2016)

PT symmetry and antisymmetry by anti-Hermitian wave coupling and nonlinear optical interactions

S. Longhi
Opt. Lett. 43(16) 4025-4028 (2018)

Role of symmetry in mode coupling in twisted microstructured optical fibers

Maciej Napiorkowski and Waclaw Urbanczyk
Opt. Lett. 43(3) 395-398 (2018)

Time-reversed electromagnetic fields in anisotropic media

Elias Le Boudec, Nicolas Mora, Farhad Rachidi, Marcos Rubinstein, and Felix Vega
Opt. Lett. 49(7) 1820-1823 (2024)