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 ($\reε/|ε|+\reμ/|μ|<0$). At oblique incidence to semi-infinite, active media it is explained that the wave vector generally loses its usual interpretation for real frequencies.

References in corpus (5)

• Optical gain removes absorption and increases resolution in a near-field lens
• The negative index of refraction demystified
• Fresnel equations and the refractive index of active media
• A right-handed isotropic medium with a negative refractive index
• Resolving the wave-vector in negative refractive media: The sign of $\sqrt{Z}$

Cited by in corpus (12)

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• Casimir forces in multilayer magnetodielectrics with both gain and loss
• Negative refraction in active and passive media: a discussion of various criteria
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• When does the choice of the refractive index of a linear, homogeneous, isotropic, active, dielectric medium matter?
• Quantum optical effective-medium theory for layered metamaterials
• On the inapplicability of a negative-phase-velocity condition as a negative-refraction condition for active materials
• Fourier theory of linear gain media
• On the refractive index for a nonmagnetic two-component medium: resolution of a controversy
• Negative index of refraction in a four-level system with magnetoelectric cross coupling and local field corrections
• Realizing negative index of refraction in an ensemble of ground-state polar molecules with lasers