We develop a compact theory that can be applied to a variety of time-varying dispersive materials. The continuous-wave reflection and transmission coefficients are replaced with equivalent operator expressions. In addition to comparing this approach to existing numerical and analytical techniques, we find that the eigenfunctions of these operators represent pulses that do not change their spectra after interaction with the time-varying, dispersive material. In addition, the poles of these operators represent the nontime harmonic bound states of the system.

• Received 7 September 2022
• Accepted 31 March 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.203803

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Published by the American Physical Society