Left-Handed-Material-like behavior revealed by arrays of dielectric cylinders

TL;DR

This paper shows that arrays of dielectric cylinders can mimic left-handed material behavior in certain conditions, highlighting potential misinterpretations in experimental evidence of such materials.

Contribution

It reveals how photonic crystal structures can produce left-handed-like electromagnetic responses without actual negative index materials.

Findings

Transmission mimics negative refraction in specific frequency regimes

Behavior occurs without considering wave propagation inside media

Potential for misinterpreting experimental evidence of left-handed materials

Abstract

We investigate the electromagnetic propagation in two-dimensional photonic crystals, formed by parallel dielectric cylinders embedded a uniform medium. The transmission of electromagnetic waves through prism structures are calculated by the standard multiple scattering theory. The results demonstrate that in certain frequency regimes and when the propagation inside the scattering media is not considered, the transmission behavior mimics that expected for a left-handed material. Such feature may illusively lead to the conclusion that a left-handed material is fabricated and it obeys Snell's law of negative refraction. We also discuss possible ambiguities that may be involved in previous experimental evidence of left-handed materials.