Linear electromagnetic wave equations in materials

Starke, R.; Schober, G. A. H.

doi:10.1016/j.photonics.2017.06.001

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Apart from a number of general arguments against the standard formula for the refractive index [37, § 3.2], this conclusion had been confirmed independently by the direct rederivation of n 2 = ε r from first principles [37,Sct. 4] within the Functional Approach to electrodynamics of media [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. In the following, we will show that the same phenomenon arises when it comes to the Fresnel equations: a straightforward derivation within a microscopic approach to electrodynamics in media directly leads to the Fresnel equations (2.3)-(2.6) without the necessity of assuming µ r = 1.…”

Section: Critique Of Standard Derivationmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…[31][32][33]). Recently, the authors of this article have therefore condensed the corresponding common practice of ab initio materials physics into the Functional Approach to electrodynamics of media [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41], which is an inherently microscopic theory of electromagnetic material properties. With these developments, however, the following fundamental problem arises: the classical methods for the measurement of the dielectric function, such as ellipsometry or reflectivity spectroscopy (see e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why history matters: Ab initio rederivation of Fresnel equations confirms microscopic theory of refractive index

Starke

Schober

2018

Optik

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We provide a systematic theoretical, experimental, and historical critique of the standard derivation of Fresnel's equations, which shows in particular that these well-established equations actually contradict the traditional, macroscopic approach to electrodynamics in media. Subsequently, we give a rederivation of Fresnel's equations which is exclusively based on the microscopic Maxwell equations and hence in accordance with modern first-principles materials physics. In particular, as a main outcome of this analysis being of a more general interest, we propose the most general boundary conditions on electric and magnetic fields which are valid on the microscopic level.

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Section: Critique Of Standard Derivationmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why history matters: Ab initio rederivation of Fresnel equations confirms microscopic theory of refractive index

Starke

Schober

2018

Optik

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“…On a microscopic level, the most general, linear electromagnetic wave equation in materials-which requires only spatial homogeneity-reads as follows (see Refs. [1,21,27,30,31]):…”

Section: Fundamental Microscopic Wave Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wavevector-dependent optical properties from wavevector-independent proper conductivity tensor

et al. 2020

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We discuss the standard ab initio calculation of the refractive index by means of the scalar dielectric function and point out its inherent limitations. To overcome these, we start from the recently proposed fundamental, microscopic wave equation in materials in terms of the frequencyand wavevector-dependent dielectric tensor, and investigate under which conditions the standard treatment can be justified. Thereby, we address the question of neglecting the wavevector dependence of microscopic response functions. Furthermore, we analyze in how far the fundamental, microscopic wave equation is equivalent to the standard wave equation used in theoretical optics. In particular, we clarify the relation of the "effective" dielectric tensor used there to the microscopic dielectric tensor defined in ab initio physics.

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“…2 55) i.e., if the four-potential lies in the kernel of the inverse Green function. On the other hand, the Schwinger-Dyson equation (2.55) between the full and the free electromagnetic Green function formally (see [82]) implies that…”

Section: Connection To the Dielectric Tensormentioning

confidence: 99%

Microscopic theory of the refractive index

Starke

Schober

2017

Optik

Self Cite

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We examine the refractive index from the viewpoint of modern first-principles materials physics. We first argue that the standard formula, n 2 = ε r µ r , is generally in conflict with fundamental principles on the microscopic level. Instead, it turns out that an allegedly approximate relation, n 2 = ε r , which is already being used for most practical purposes, can be justified theoretically at optical wavelengths. More generally, starting from the fundamental, Lorentz-covariant electromagnetic wave equation in materials as used in plasma physics, we rederive a well-known, three-dimensional form of the wave equation in materials and thereby clarify the connection between the covariant fundamental response tensor and the various cartesian tensors used to describe optical properties. Finally, we prove a general theorem by which the fundamental, covariant wave equation can be reformulated concisely in terms of the microscopic dielectric tensor.

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Linear electromagnetic wave equations in materials

Cited by 6 publications

References 40 publications

Why history matters: Ab initio rederivation of Fresnel equations confirms microscopic theory of refractive index

Why history matters: Ab initio rederivation of Fresnel equations confirms microscopic theory of refractive index

Wavevector-dependent optical properties from wavevector-independent proper conductivity tensor

Microscopic theory of the refractive index

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