Anisotropy and oblique total transmission at a planar negative-index interface

TL;DR

This paper explores the anisotropic optical properties of negative index materials, revealing frequency-dependent total oblique transmission phenomena distinct from the Brewster effect, supported by analytical and simulation results.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of anisotropic behavior in negative index materials and demonstrates frequency-selective total oblique transmission at planar interfaces.

Findings

Negative index materials exhibit anisotropic effective refraction indices.

Total oblique transmission occurs at specific frequencies, differing from Brewster effect.

Simulation confirms analytical predictions for realistic structures.

Abstract

We show that a class of negative index (n) materials has interesting anisotropic optical properties, manifest in the effective refraction index that can be positive, negative, or purely imaginary under different incidence conditions. With dispersion taken into account, reflection at a planar negative-index interface exhibits frequency selective total oblique transmission that is distinct from the Brewster effect. Finite-difference-time-domain simulation of realistic negative-n structures confirms the analytic results based on effective indices.