Fermat's principle and the formal equivalence of local light-ray rotation and refraction at the interface between homogeneous media with a complex refractive index ratio

Sundar, B., Hamilton, A.C. and Courtial, J. (2009) Fermat's principle and the formal equivalence of local light-ray rotation and refraction at the interface between homogeneous media with a complex refractive index ratio. Optics Letters, 34(3), pp. 374-376. (doi: 10.1364/OL.34.000374)

Abstract

We derive a formal description of local light-ray rotation in terms of complex refractive indices. We show that Fermat's principle holds, and we derive an extended Snell's law. The change in the angle of a light ray with respect to the normal of a refractive index interface is described by the modulus of the refractive index ratio; the rotation around the interface normal is described by the argument of the refractive index ratio.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This paper was published in Optics Letters and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OL.34.000374. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Courtial, Dr Johannes
• Authors: Sundar, B., Hamilton, A.C., and Courtial, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Optics Letters
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• ISSN: 0146-9592
• ISSN (Online): 1539-4794
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Optical Society of America
• First Published: First published in Optics Letters 34(3):374-376
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher