Electromagnetic wave manipulation using layered systems

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that layered isotropic systems can manipulate electromagnetic waves in versatile ways, acting as universal components for advanced optical devices by leveraging transformation media concepts.

Contribution

It introduces a method to describe layered systems using transformation media theory, enabling the design of various functional optical components.

Findings

Layered systems can be used to create wave splitters and combiners.

Oblique layered systems can function as cloaking devices.

Reflectionless field rotators can be realized with layered structures.

Abstract

We show that the optical properties of an oblique layered system with two kinds of isotropic materials can be described using the concept of transformation media as long as the thickness of the layers is much smaller than the wavelength. Once the connection with transformation media is established, we then show that oblique layered system can serve as a universal element to build a variety of interesting functional optical components such as wave splitters, wave combiners, one-dimensional cloaking devices and reflectionless field rotators.