Open AccessExperimental demonstration of the optical Zeno effect by scanning tunneling optical microscopy
Author(s) -
Paolo Biagioni,
Giuseppe Della Valle,
Marco Ornigotti,
Marco Finazzi,
Lamberto Duò,
P. Laporta,
Stefano Longhi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.003762
Subject(s) - optics , quantum zeno effect , scanning tunneling microscope , quantum tunnelling , waveguide , microscopy , physics , materials science , optoelectronics , quantum , nanotechnology , quantum mechanics , open quantum system
An experimental demonstration of a classical analogue of the quantum Zeno effect for light waves propagating in engineered arrays of tunneling-coupled optical waveguides is reported. Quantitative mapping of the flow of light, based on scanning tunneling optical microscopy, clearly demonstrates that the escape dynamics of light in an optical waveguide side-coupled to a tight-binding continuum is slowed down when projective measurements, mimicked by sequential interruptions of the decay, are performed on the system.