An advanced Jones calculus for the classification of periodic metamaterials

TL;DR

This paper introduces an advanced Jones calculus framework to classify periodic metamaterials into five symmetry-based categories, enabling straightforward polarization analysis through transmitted light measurements.

Contribution

It presents a novel classification scheme for metamaterials based on symmetry, along with an algorithm for experimental identification using polarization measurements.

Findings

Metamaterials can be categorized into five classes based on symmetry.

Each class uniquely influences transmitted light polarization.

An easy-to-apply measurement algorithm is proposed for classification.

Abstract

By relying on an advanced Jones calculus we analyze the polarization properties of light upon propagation through metamaterial slabs in a comprehensive manner. Based on symmetry considerations, we show that all periodic metamaterials may be divided into five different classes only. It is shown that each class differently affects the polarization of the transmitted light and sustains different eigenmodes. We show how to deduce these five classes from symmetry considerations and provide a simple algorithm that can be applied to decide by measuring transmitted intensities to which class a given metamaterial is belonging to only.