Negative refraction and covariance: the perils of P • k < 0

Martin W. McCall

doi:10.1117/12.796495

4 September 2008 Negative refraction and covariance: the perils of P • k < 0

Martin W. McCall

Proceedings Volume 7029, Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications; 70290Y (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796495
Event: NanoScience + Engineering, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

By way of examples in vacuum and media, we show that the criterion used widely to determine the occurrence of negative phase velocity propagation is not covariant. A new covariant criterion is presented that reduces to the previous criterion in the rest frame of a medium. The new criterion requires calculation of the plane wave electromagnetic modes of a generalized medium in terms of the four-potential, A_ν. Some of the subtleties of removing the gauge freedom inherent in A_ν are highlighted.

Citation Download Citation

Martin W. McCall "Negative refraction and covariance: the perils of P • k < 0", Proc. SPIE 7029, Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications, 70290Y (4 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796495

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