On resolving the refractive index and the wave vector
Abstract
The identification of the refractive index and wave vector for general (possibly active) linear, isotropic, homogeneous, and non-spatially dispersive media is discussed. Correct conditions for negative refraction necessarily include the global properties of the permittivity and permeability functions $\epsilon=\epsilon(\omega)$ and $\mu=\mu(\omega)$. On the other hand, a necessary and sufficient condition for left-handedness can be identified at a single frequency ($\re\epsilon/|\epsilon|+\re\mu/|\mu|<0$). At oblique incidence to semi-infinite, active media it is explained that the wave vector generally loses its usual interpretation for real frequencies.
- Publication:
-
Optics Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1364/OL.31.003372
- arXiv:
- arXiv:physics/0607104
- Bibcode:
- 2006OptL...31.3372S
- Keywords:
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- Physics - Optics
- E-Print:
- Optics Letters 31, pp. 3372-3374 (2006)