Polarization-state-dependent attenuation and amplification in a columnar thin film

TL;DR

This study numerically demonstrates that a columnar thin film can differentially amplify or attenuate light depending on its polarization state, angle of incidence, and thickness, revealing potential for polarization control in optical devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel polarization-dependent amplification and attenuation effect in a columnar thin film with active and dissipative materials, supported by numerical analysis.

Findings

The CTF can amplify s-polarized light while attenuating p-polarized light.

The effect depends on the angle of incidence and film thickness.

The phenomenon enables polarization-selective control of light propagation.

Abstract

We numerically investigated the plane-wave reflection-transmission characteristics of a columnar thin film (CTF) whose columns are made from a dissipative material but whose void regions are filled with an active material. By computing the reflectances and transmittances, we found that the CTF can simultaneously amplify $s$-polarized incident light and attenuate $p$-polarized incident light, or vice versa. This polarization-state-dependent attenuation and amplification phenomenon depends upon the angle of incidence and the thickness of the CTF.