Waves and energy in chiral nihility

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of chiral nihility, a novel exotic material with zero permittivity and permeability, analyzing its wave solutions, energy behavior, and unusual reflection and refraction phenomena.

Contribution

It proposes a model for chiral nihility, demonstrating its realization via helical inclusions and analyzing its unique wave and energy properties.

Findings

An extraordinary wave in chiral nihility is a backward wave.

Normal incidence produces a standing phase wave.

Oblique incidence results in two refracted waves, one with anomalous refraction.

Abstract

A model for a chiral material in which both the permittivity and permeability are equal to zero is discussed. Such a material is referred by us as a ``chiral nihility". It is shown that this exotic material can be realized as a mixture of small helical inclusions. Wave solutions and energy in such a medium are analyzed. It is shown that an extraordinary wave in chiral nihility is a backward wave. Wave reflection and refraction on a chiral nihility interface is also considered. It is shown that a linearly polarized wave normally incident onto this interface produces the wave of "standing phase" and the same wave in the case of oblique incidence causes two refracted waves, one of them with an anomalous refraction.