Simulations of Fluorescence and Energy Transfer in Periodic Systems: Pitfalls and Considerations for Bound States in the Continuum
Abstract
Bound states in the continuum (BICs) combine high quality factors with strong electromagnetic-field localization and are therefore widely explored for enhancing light--matter interactions. However, large field amplitudes do not directly translate into useful fluorescence enhancement or energy transfer enhancement between two donor--acceptor fluorophores. Here, we investigate this question for a hybrid plasmonic--photonic resonant waveguide grating supporting a symmetry-protected BIC. We emphasize some of the pitfalls associated with the numerical simulations, especially the utilization of periodic boundary conditions for fluorescence. Strong BIC-related fields can enhance acceptor absorption while useful fluorescence enhancement remains moderate. Extensive simulations and the comparison of different figures of merit, indicate that, while a BIC can suppress radiative leakage, it can also redirect a large fraction of the energy into Ohmic losses. As a result, the useful fluorescence enhancement of donors remains moderate, whereas absorption by acceptors can be strongly enhanced in Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. It is essential to separate near-field FRET from long-range energy transfer and reabsorption mechanisms, both of which are mediated by the delocalized BIC mode. Finally, results obtained for finite gratings are compared with infinite periodic simulations and conceptual inconsistencies explained. This work provides a consistent framework for interpreting fluorescence, absorption, and energy transfer in BIC-based periodic nanophotonic systems.
Related
- Interface-resolved simulations of boiling heat transfer
- Accelerating Quantum Simulations of Materials Through Parameter and Ansatz Transfer Strategies
- Mechanism-Resolved Interface Momentum Transfer in Immersed-Boundary Lattice Boltzmann Simulations
- Symmetry considerations in chirality-induced spin selectivity
- Depth estimation in fluorescence microscopy using degree of polarization
BibTeX
@misc{lykov2026simulations,
title = {{Simulations of Fluorescence and Energy Transfer in Periodic Systems: Pitfalls and Considerations for Bound States in the Continuum}},
author = {Ilia Lykov and Sergejs Boroviks and Olivier J. F. Martin},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.11457},
eprint = {2610.11457},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.11457},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Simulations of Fluorescence and Energy Transfer in Periodic Systems: Pitfalls and Considerations for Bound States in the Continuum
AU - Ilia Lykov
AU - Sergejs Boroviks
AU - Olivier J. F. Martin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.11457
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.11457
AB - Bound states in the continuum (BICs) combine high quality factors with strong electromagnetic-field localization and are therefore widely explored for enhancing light--matter interactions. However, large field amplitudes do not directly translate into useful fluorescence enhancement or energy transfer enhancement between two donor--acceptor fluorophores. Here, we investigate this question for a hybrid plasmonic--photonic resonant waveguide grating supporting a symmetry-protected BIC. We emphasize some of the pitfalls associated with the numerical simulations, especially the utilization of periodic boundary conditions for fluorescence. Strong BIC-related fields can enhance acceptor absorption while useful fluorescence enhancement remains moderate. Extensive simulations and the comparison of different figures of merit, indicate that, while a BIC can suppress radiative leakage, it can also redirect a large fraction of the energy into Ohmic losses. As a result, the useful fluorescence enhancement of donors remains moderate, whereas absorption by acceptors can be strongly enhanced in Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. It is essential to separate near-field FRET from long-range energy transfer and reabsorption mechanisms, both of which are mediated by the delocalized BIC mode. Finally, results obtained for finite gratings are compared with infinite periodic simulations and conceptual inconsistencies explained. This work provides a consistent framework for interpreting fluorescence, absorption, and energy transfer in BIC-based periodic nanophotonic systems.
ER -