Dispersion Characteristics of Accelerated Spacetime-Modulated Media

TL;DR

This paper explores the unique dispersion properties of spacetime-modulated media with constant acceleration, revealing novel light-bending effects through a combination of relativity and electrodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of nonuniform-velocity STM metamaterials and derives their dispersion relation using tools from General Relativity and Classical Electrodynamics.

Findings

Light bends opposite to the modulation direction.

Dispersion relation for accelerated STM media derived.

Fundamental physics of hyperbolic acceleration in metamaterials explained.

Abstract

This paper opens up the field of nonuniform-velocity SpaceTime-Modulated (STM) metamaterials, with the canonical example of an STM metamaterial of constant proper acceleration or, equivalently, hyperbolic acceleration. Combining tools of General Relativity and Classical Electrodynamics, it derives the dispersion relation of this exotic medium and reports its fundamental physics, whose most striking feature is the bending of light in the direction opposite to the direction of the modulation.