Near-field imaging of magnetic complex mode volume

The non-Hermitian nature of confined photonic modes is described by the electric complex modal volume, VE, which represents a key parameter that leads to counterintuitive effects, such as negative modal contribution to the local density of states and non-Lorentzian lineshapes. Here, we address the magnetic counterpart of VE by means of near-field perturbation experiments in a photonic crystal slab cavity. We study the relevant role played by the imaginary part of the magnetic modal volume, VH, which can increase the quality factor of the confined modes by means of a local external magnetic perturbation. We show how a mapping of the spatial distribution of both the real and imaginary parts of VH can be inferred by near-field experiments employing Al-covered near-field tips. Our findings deepen the role of the magnetic component of light and could open a new route in employing metamaterials, magnetic quantum emitters, and topological photonics