A further examination of optical analogy of quantum transport in mesoscopic structures

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We show that the transmittance of light through waveguides is analogous to the conductance of electrons through mesoscopic wires only when a quasi-monochromatic light source is used. We also show that when casting the Maxwell equations into a Schrödinger-type equation in an optical waveguide with a spatially varying dielectric function ϵ(ω, r ) (the optical of a mesoscopic electron conductor with disorders), a velocity-like, non-hermitian term in the effective Hamiltonian prevails. The latter distinguishes the optical case from the electron case, in addition to the vector nature of electromagnetic waves.