Concurrency of anisotropy and spatial dispersion in low refractive index dielectric composites

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spatial dispersion interacts with anisotropy in low refractive index dielectric composites, revealing unusual optical behaviors such as additional axes and anisotropy compensation through first principles simulations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the concurrent effects of anisotropy and spatial dispersion in low contrast 3D dielectric composites using plane wave simulations, highlighting new optical phenomena.

Findings

Spatial dispersion causes additional optical axes.

It can compensate anisotropy in specific directions.

Uncommon manifestations observed at sub-wavelength periods.

Abstract

The article demonstrates uncommon manifestation of spatial dispersion in low refractive index contrast 3D periodic dielectric composites with periods of about one tenth of the wavelength. First principles simulations by the well established plane wave method reveal that spatial dispersion leads to appearance of additional optical axes and can compensate anisotropy in certain directions.