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arXiv · 0809.4350

Fermat's principle with complex refractive indices and local light-ray rotation

Bhuvanesh Sundar·Alasdair C. Hamilton·Johannes Courtial
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Abstract

We describe 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 to 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.

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Bhuvanesh Sundar, Alasdair C. Hamilton, Johannes Courtial. 2009-01-29. Fermat's principle with complex refractive indices and local light-ray rotation. https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.34.000374

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