Algebraic Absorption in Non-Hermitian Photonic Lattices
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsPlease refer to the attachment.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this theoretical paper, the manuscript investigates non-Hermitian photonic networks, demonstrating a fascinating physical phenomenon: algebraic (quasi-linear) power decay in a passive waveguide network where dissipation is confined to a single edge site (or a few localized edge sites). In contrast to conventional orthogonal, Hermitian, or standard dissipative systems controlled by multi-exponential attenuation, the author shows that non-orthogonal modal interference can be tailored using specific edge excitations to continuously direct energy toward the lossy edge. Furthermore, the article closely links this behavior to coherent perfect absorption (CPA) and spectral singularities in semi-infinite structures.
The paper is exceptionally well-written, mathematically rigorous, and the analytical derivations (utilizing analogies to continuous-time quantum walk and tight-binding models) fit perfectly with numerical calculations of beam propagation.
I have only a few minor suggestions to enhance the impact and clarity of the manuscript for the broader optical community:
1) Figure 1 illustrates a waveguide network with a single lossy edge. While this is clear to a theoretical physicist, for the broader readership of the MDPI journal, this diagram could more clearly show the phase and amplitude profiles of the input wave packet - that is, by indicating the vector cn(0) (|ψ(0)⟩). If the author had added a bar chart or a graphical distribution of this vector above the waveguides in Figure 1 (e.g., showing that the amplitude is constant but the phase shifts by π/2 from waveguide to waveguide), the reader would immediately connect the physical diagram with the complex mathematical apparatus contained in Chapters 2 and 3.
2) In the text right below Equation (28), the author states: "Equation (27) is valid up to the propagation distance...". This appears to be a typographical error. Equation (27) defines the absorbed power in the semi-infinite lattice matrix. The author should correct this cross-reference to Equation (28), which explicitly describes the linear decay law of the optical power P(z) in the truncated system. Additionally, the typographical error "propapagion" on the axes of Figures 2, 4, and 5b should be corrected to "propagation".
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsNo further questions and the manuscript can be accepted.
