Anomalous Reflection From Hyperbolic Media

TL;DR

This paper resolves a paradox in electromagnetic wave reflection at hyperbolic media interfaces by introducing infinitesimal losses, revealing that reflected waves are highly decayed and absorbed, with implications for various optical applications.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel resolution to the electromagnetic reflection paradox at hyperbolic media interfaces by incorporating infinitesimal losses, supported by analytical, numerical, and experimental evidence.

Findings

Reflected waves become highly decayed with infinitesimal losses.

All scattered energy into the reflected channel is absorbed at the interface.

The resolution has potential applications in optics and electromagnetic devices.

Abstract

Despite the apparent simplicity, the problem of refraction of electromagnetic waves at the planar interface between two media has an incredibly rich spectrum of unusual phenomena. An example is the paradox that occurs when an electromagnetic wave is incident on the interface between a hyperbolic medium and an isotropic dielectric. At certain orientations of the optical axis of the hyperbolic medium relative to the interface, the reflected and transmitted waves are completely absent. In this paper, we formulate the aforementioned paradox and present its resolution by introduction of infinitesimal losses in a hyperbolic medium. We show that the reflected wave exists, but became extremely decaying as the loss parameter tends to zero. As a consequence, all the energy scattered into the reflected channel is absorbed at the interface. We support our reasoning with analytical calculations, numerical simulations, and an experiment with self-complementary metasurfaces in the microwave region. In addition to the great fundamental interest, this paradox resolution discovers a plethora of applications for the reflectors, refractors, absorbers, lenses, antennas, camouflage and holography applications.