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Abstract Understanding the linear response of any system is the first step towards analyzing its linear and nonlinear dynamics, stability properties, as well as its behavior in the presence of noise. In non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems, calculating the linear response is complicated due to the non-orthogonality of their eigenmodes, and the presence of exceptional points (EPs). Here, we derive a closed form series expansion of the resolvent associated with an arbitrary non-Hermitian system in terms of the ordinary and generalized eigenfunctions of the underlying Hamiltonian. This in turn reveals an interesting and previously overlooked feature of non-Hermitian systems, namely that their lineshape scaling is dictated by how the input (excitation) and output (collection) profiles are chosen. In particular, we demonstrate that a configuration with an EP of order M can exhibit a Lorentzian response or a super-Lorentzian response of order M s with M s  = 2, 3, …,  M , depending on the choice of input and output channels. 

We develop a linear theory for non-Hermitian optical systems having exceptional points. In contrast to previous studies, our analysis results in an exact expression for the resolvent operator without the need to use perturbation expansions. 

We demonstrate an exceptional surface in a waveguide-coupled resonator by establishing unidirectional coupling between its frequency-degenerate counterpropagating modes. When operated on the ES, the system exhibits chiral perfect absorption with quartic lineshape.