Weixing Shu

Superluminal group velocity in an anisotropic metamaterial

Based on boundary condition and dispersion relation, the superluminal group velocity in an anisotropic metamaterial (AMM) is investigated. The superluminal propagation is induced by the hyperbolic dispersion relation associated with the AMM. It is shown that a modulated Gaussian beam exhibits a superluminal group velocity which depends on the choice of incident angles and optical axis angles. The superluminal propagation does not violate the theory of special relativity because the group velocity is the velocity of the peak of the localized wave packet which does not carry information. It is proposed that a triglycine sulfate (TGS) crystal can be designed and the superluminal group velocity can be measured experimentally.

Construct a polarizing beam splitter by an anisotropic metamaterial slab

The propagation of electromagnetic waves in the anisotropic medium with a single-sheeted hyperboloid dispersion relation is investigated. It is found that in such an anisotropic medium Eand H-polarized waves have the same dispersion relation, while E- and H-polarized waves exhibit opposite amphoteric refraction characteristics. E- (or H-) polarized waves are positively refracted whereas H- (or E-) polarized waves are negatively refracted at the interface associated with the anisotropic medium. By suitably using the properties of anomalous refraction in the anisotropic medium it is possible to realize a very simple and very efficient beam splitter to route the light. It is shown that the splitting angle and the splitting distance between E- and H- polarized beam is the function of anisotropic parameters, incident angle and slab thickness.

Wave propagation in an anisotropic metamaterial with single-sheeted hyperboloid dispersion relation

We investigate the wave propagation in an anisotropic metamaterial with single-sheeted hyperboloid dispersion relation. Based on boundary conditions and dispersion relations, we find that the opposite amphoteric refraction, such that E (or H)-polarized waves are positively refracted whereas H (or E)-polarized waves are negatively refracted, can occur at the interface associated with the anisotropic metamaterial. Under a certain condition, both E- and H-polarized waves can exhibit the same single-sheeted hyperboloid or straight line dispersion relation, while the two polarized waves exhibit different propagation characteristics. We expect some potential device applications can be derived based on the unique amphoteric refraction properties.

Construction of a polarization insensitive lens from a quasi-isotropic metamaterial slab

We propose to employ the quasi-isotropic metamaterial (QIMM) slab to construct a polarization insensitive lens, in which both E- and H-polarized waves exhibit the same refocusing effect. For shallow incident angles, the QIMM slab will provide some degree of refocusing in the same manner as an isotropic negative index material. The refocusing effect allows us to introduce the ideas of paraxial beam focusing and phase compensation by the QIMM slab. On the basis of angular spectrum representation, a formalism describing paraxial beams propagating through a QIMM slab is presented. Because of the negative phase velocity in the QIMM slab, the inverse Gouy phase shift and the negative Rayleigh length of paraxial Gaussian beam are proposed. We find that the phase difference caused by the Gouy phase shift in vacuum can be compensated by that caused by the inverse Gouy phase shift in the QIMM slab. If certain matching conditions are satisfied, the intensity and phase distributions at object plane can be completely reconstructed at image plane. Our simulation results show that the superlensing effect with subwavelength image resolution could be achieved in the form of a QIMM slab.

Focusing and phase compensation of paraxial beams by a left-handed material slab

On the basis of angular spectrum representation, a formalism describing paraxial beams propagating through an isotropic left-handed material (LHM) slab is presented. The treatment allows us to introduce the ideas of beam focusing and phase compensation by LHM slab. Because of the negative refractive index of LHM slab, the inverse Gouy phase shift and the negative Rayleigh length of paraxial Gaussian beam are proposed. It is shown that the phase difference caused by the Gouy phase shift in right-handed material (RHM) can be compensated by that caused by the inverse Gouy phase shift in LHM. If certain matching conditions are satisfied, the intensity and phase distributions at object plane can be completely reconstructed at the image plane.

Anomalous wave propagation in quasiisotropic media

Based on boundary conditions and dispersion relations, the anomalous propagation of waves incident from regular isotropic media into quasiisotropic media is investigated. It is found that the anomalous negative refraction, anomalous total reflection and oblique total transmission can occur in the interface associated with quasiisotropic media. The Brewster angles of E- and H-polarized waves in quasiisotropic media are also discussed. It is shown that the propagation properties of waves in quasiisotropic media are significantly different from those in isotropic and anisotropic media.

Extinction theorem and propagation of electromagnetic waves between two anisotropic materials

Abstract.We systematically investigate the reflection and refraction of an electromagnetic wave between two semi-infinite anisotropic magnetoelectric materials. Using the integral formulation of Hertz vectors and the principle of superposition, we generalize the extinction theorem and derive the propagation characteristics of wave. Applying the results obtained, we find a general origin of Brewster effect. We also show that, through choosing appropriate material parameters, oblique or omnidirectional total transmission can occur to TE and TM waves. Compared to the traditional method, the method used here discloses the underlying mechanism of wave propagation between two arbitrary anisotropic materials and can be applied to other problems of propagation.