We experimentally demonstrate a broadband enhancement of the light absorption in graphene over the whole visible spectrum. This enhanced absorption is obtained in a multilayer structure by using an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) configuration and it is explained in terms of coherent absorption arising from interference and dissipation. The interference mechanism leading to the phenomenon of coherent absorption allows for its precise control by varying the refractive index and/or thickness of the medium surrounding the graphene.

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We experimentally demonstrate the coherent control, i.e., phase-dependent enhancement and suppression, of the optical absorption in an array of metallic nanoantennas covered by a thin luminescent layer. The coherent control is achieved by using two collinear, counter-propagating and phase-controlled incident waves with wavelength matching the absorption spectrum of dye molecules coupled to the array. Symmetry arguments shed light on the relation between the relative phase of the incident waves and the excitation efficiency of the optical resonances of the system. This coherent control is associated with a phase-dependent distribution of the electromagnetic near-fields in the structure which enables a significant reduction of the unwanted dissipation in the metallic structures.