Active absorption of electromagnetic pulses in a cavity

Abstract

7 pages, 4 figuresAuthor version of the article. The version of record is available from the publisher via: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/5/053050 and is an open access article.© 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische GesellschaftWe show that a pulse of electromagnetic radiation launched into a cavity can be completely absorbed into an infinitesimal region of space, provided one has a high degree of control over the current flowing through this region. We work out explicit examples of this effect in a cubic cavity and a cylindrical one, and experimentally demonstrate the effect in the microwave regime.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Czech Science Foundatio