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

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{lunate}(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.