Shrinking cloaks in expanding spacetimes: the role of coordinates and the meaning of transformations in Transformation Optics

TL;DR

This paper employs a covariant approach to transformation optics within an expanding universe model, clarifying the roles of different transformations and expanding the potential functionalities of cloaking devices.

Contribution

It introduces a fully covariant formulation of transformation optics in an expanding spacetime and distinguishes corporeal transformations from coordinate transformations.

Findings

Covariant formulation enhances understanding of transformation optics.

Demonstrates preservation of covariance in an expanding universe.

Identifies broader classes of corporeal transformations for improved device functionality.

Abstract

The fully covariant formulation of transformation optics is used to find the configuration of a cloaking device operating in an expanding universe modelled by a Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker spacetime. This spacetime cloak is used as a platform for probing the covariant formulation of transformation optics, thereby rigorously enhancing the conceptual understanding of the theory. By studying the problem in both comoving and physical coordinates we explicitly demonstrate the preservation of general covariance of electrodynamics under the transformation optics procedure. This platform also enables a detailed study of the various transformations that arise in transformation optics. We define a corporeal transformation as the "transformation" of transformation optics, and distinguish it from coordinate and frame transformations. We find that corporeal transformations considered in the literature have generally been restricted to a subset of all possible corporeal transformations, providing a potential mechanism for increased functionality of transformation optics.