Jay-qu Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 So apparently there are these metamaterials that posses a negative refractive index such that light will refract to the opposite side of the normal.. this is where I get caught up: metamaterials have ε < 0 and μ < 0so if [math] N=\sqrt{\epsilon\mu}[/math] how is that that you can get a negative N ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmarinas86 Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 I'm not sure, but I think it has to do with the formula for a "complex refractive index." What you have there is not the complete deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay-qu Posted May 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 slight *bump* I was hoping for some explanation.. any way if you want to know more try metamaterials Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus00 Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 this is where I get caught up: metamaterials have ε < 0 and μ < 0so if [math] N=\sqrt{\epsilon\mu}[/math] how is that that you can get a negative N ? When you take a square root, you get two answers, one positive, one negative. The reason you need to take the negative square root for a material with a negative dielectric and magnetic constant is that when you try and satisfy the boundary conditions for a wave traveling through the surface, you'll find that the group velocity of the wave is anti-parallel to the phase velocity. -Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qfwfq Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 I would find that understandable if dispersivity were being discussed, rather than given values of ε and μ. Do you have a link to something that spells it out more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay-qu Posted May 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 just the wiki on metamaterials :shrug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus00 Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 I would find that understandable if dispersivity were being discussed, rather than given values of ε and μ. Do you have a link to something that spells it out more? Jackson does a bit on negative refractive indices in his chapter on wave propagation, and I think in his chapter on linear response. I'd give chapter numbers, but I'm on the road and don't have my texts with me. -Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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