Waves and Energy in Chiral Nihility

Abstract

A model for a chiral material in which both the permittivity and permeability are equal to zero is discussed. Such a material is referred by us as a "chiral nihility". It is shown that this exotic material can be realized as a mixture of small helical inclusions. Wave solutions and energy in such a medium are analyzed. It is shown that an extraordinary wave in chiral nihility is a backward wave. Wave reflection and refraction on a chiral nihility interface is also considered. It is shown that a linearly polarized wave normally incident onto this interface produces the wave of "standing phase" and the same wave in the case of oblique incidence causes two refracted waves, one of them with an anomalous refraction.

Metamaterials: a new frontier of science and technology

“…Based on this investigation, Tretyakov et al and Pendry independently suggested that chiral materials provide an alternative route to realize the negative refractive index. 45,46 This approach does not require simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability in the same frequency range as we have discussed in preceding sessions, which could relax the design and fabrication challenges to some extent. To achieve a strong chirality leading to the negative refractive index, Pendry proposed the Swiss roll structure wound in a helical manner, as shown in Fig.…”

Application of Chiral Layers and Metamaterials for the Reduction of Radar Cross Section

“…In the first example, we consider the reflection of a plane wave from a PEC backed chiral nihility layer of thickness d = 0.2 m which the real parts of permittivity and permeability are equal to zero [9]. Assume a plane wave with unity amplitude and frequency of 12 GHz illuminates the assumed chiral nihility layer whose the electromagnetic parameters are ε r = −0.1j, µ r = −0.3j and κ = 1.1.…”

“…Recently, there is rapid development on the study of electromagnetic wave propagation in chiral media [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The possibility of realizing negative refraction by chiral nihility was first discussed by Tretyakov et al (2003) [9].…”

Exotic Characteristics of Power Propagation in the Chiral Nihility Fiber

“…Recently, theoretical and experimental studies have shown that chiral metamaterials can achieve negative refractive index (NRI) because of its chirality [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. NRI chiral metamaterials can also be used as a "perfect lens", but for circularly polarized waves [29,30].…”

“…The unusual characteristics of guided and surface modes in chiral negative refraction slab [37,38], grounded slab [39] and parallelplate waveguides [40] have been investigated theoretically. Chiral nihility metamaterial is a special case of chiral negative refraction medium, in which the permittivity and permeability are simultaneously zero [25,41]. Waves in the chiral nihility metamaterial waveguides have also been examined in literature [42][43][44][45] and our previous papers [46,47].…”