  We propose a methodical approach to controlling and enhancing deviations from
exponential decay in quantum and optical systems by exploiting recent progress
surrounding another subtle effect: the bound states in continuum, which have
been observed in optical waveguide array experiments within this past decade.
Specifically, we show that by populating an initial state orthogonal to that of
the bound state in continuum, it is possible to engineer system parameters for
which the usual exponential decay process is suppressed in favor of inverse
power law dynamics and coherent effects that typically would be extremely
difficult to detect in experiment. We demonstrate our method using a model
based on an optical waveguide array experiment, and further show that the
method is robust even in the face of significant detuning from the precise
location of the bound state in continuum.
