Metamaterials for light rays: ray optics without wave-optical analog in the ray-optics limit

Hamilton, A.C. and Courtial, J. (2009) Metamaterials for light rays: ray optics without wave-optical analog in the ray-optics limit. New Journal of Physics, 11(1), 013042. (doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/1/013042)

Abstract

Volumes of sub-wavelength electromagnetic elements can act like homogeneous materials: metamaterials. In analogy, sheets of optical elements such as prisms can act ray-optically like homogeneous sheet materials. In this sense, such sheets can be considered to be metamaterials for light rays (METATOYs). METATOYs realize new and unusual transformations of the directions of transmitted light rays. We study here, in the ray-optics and scalar-wave limits, the wave-optical analog of such transformations, and we show that such an analog does not always exist. Perhaps, this is the reason why many of the ray-optical possibilities offered by METATOYs have never before been considered.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Courtial, Dr Johannes and Hamilton, Mr Alasdair
• Authors: Hamilton, A.C., and Courtial, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: New Journal of Physics
• Journal Abbr.: New J. Phys.
• Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
• ISSN: 1367-2630
• ISSN (Online): 1367-2630
• Published Online: 26 January 2009
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
• First Published: First published in New Journal of Physics 11 (1): 013042
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher