Crimin, F. , Mackinnon, N., Götte, J. B. and Barnett, S. (2019) On the conservation of helicity in a chiral medium. Journal of Optics, 21(9), 094003. (doi: 10.1088/2040-8986/ab387c)
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Abstract
We consider the energy and helicity densities of circularly polarised light within a lossless chiral medium, characterised by the chirality parameter β. A form for the helicity density is introduced, valid to first order in β, that produces a helicity of ±\hbar per photon for right and left circular polarisation, respectively. This is in contrast to the result obtained if we use the form of the helicity density employed for linear media. We examine the helicity continuity equation, and show that this modified form of the helicity density is required for consistency with the dual symmetry condition of a chiral medium with a constant value of ε/μ. Extending the results to arbitrary order in β establishes an exact relationship between the energy and helicity densities in a chiral medium.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Mackinnon, Mr Neel and Crimin, Dr Frances and Goette, Dr Joerg and Barnett, Professor Stephen |
| Authors: | Crimin, F., Mackinnon, N., Götte, J. B., and Barnett, S. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Optics |
| Publisher: | IOP Publishing |
| ISSN: | 2040-8978 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2040-8986 |
| Published Online: | 05 August 2019 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 IOP Publishing Ltd |
| First Published: | First published in Journal of Optics 21:094003 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy |
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