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Akhlesh Lakhtakia

Publications and source records attributed to Akhlesh Lakhtakia.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
arXiv2014

Multiple surface-plasmon-polariton waves guided jointly by a metal and a hyperbolic, dielectric, structurally chiral material

The planar interface of a metal and a hyperbolic, dielectric, structurally chiral material can support the propagation of none, one, or multiple surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves, at a specified frequency and along a specified direction in the interface plane. When multiple SPP waves can exist, they differ in phase speed, propagation length, degree of localization to the interface, and spatial profiles of the associated electromagnetic fields.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2013

Exhibition of circular Bragg phenomenon by hyperbolic, dielectric, structurally chiral materials

The relative permittivity dyadic of a dielectric structurally chiral material (SCM) varies helicoidally along a fixed direction; in consequence, the SCM exhibits the circular Bragg phenomenon, which is the circular-polarization-selective reflection of light. The introduction of hyperbolicity in an SCM---by making either one or two but not all three eigenvalues of the relative permittivity dyadic acquire negative real parts---does not eliminate the circular Bragg phenomenon, but significantly alters the regime for its exhibition. Physical vapor deposition techniques appear to be suitable to fabricate hyperbolic SCMs.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2013

Observation of the Dyakonov-Tamm Wave

A surface electromagnetic wave called the Dyakonov-Tamm wave has been theoretically predicted to exist at the interface of two dielectric materials at least one of which is both anisotropic and periodically nonhomogeneous. For experimental confirmation, a prism-coupled configuration was used to excite the Dyakonov-Tamm wave guided by the interface of a dense thin film of magnesium fluoride and a chiral sculptured thin film of zinc selenide. The excitation was indicated by a reflection dip (with respect to the angle of incidence in the prism-coupled configuration) that is independent of the polarization state of the incident light as well as the thicknesses of both partnering materials beyond some thresholds. Applications to optical sensing and long-range on-chip communication are expected.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2012

Vector spherical wavefunctions for orthorhombic dielectric-magnetic material with gyrotropic-like magnetoelectric properties

Vector spherical wavefunctions were derived in closed-form to represent time-harmonic electromagnetic fields in an orthorhombic dielectric-magnetic material with gyrotropic-like magnetoelectric properties. These wavefunctions were used to formulate the T matrix for scattering by a three-dimensional object composed of the chosen material. Furthermore, a closed-form, coordinate-free expression of the dyadic Green function for the chosen material was derived. Expressions ascertained for the singularity behavior will be useful for formulating volume integral equations for scattering inside the chosen material. A bilinear expansion of the dyadic Green function was obtained in terms of the derived vector spherical wavefunctions.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2012

Periodically patterned columnar thin films as Blazed gratings

Periodically patterned columnar thin films (PP-CTFs) were made by evaporating CaF2 and directing the vapor flux obliquely towards lithographically fabricated micrometer/sub-micrometer gratings. The growth of the PP-CTFs was controlled by the deposition rate to form prismatic air cavities within them and they function like blazed diffraction gratings with asymmetric diffraction patterns and diffraction efficiencies upto 52% in transmission at visible wavelengths. Scalar diffraction theory qualitatively explained the measured diffraction efficiencies.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2012

The missing ingredient in effective-medium theories: Standard deviations

Effective-medium theories for electromagnetic constitutive parameters of particulate composite materials are theories of averages. Standard deviations are absent because of the lack of rigorous theories. But ensemble averages and standard deviations can be calculated from a rigorous theory of reflection by planar multilayers. Average reflectivities at all angles of incidence and two orthogonal polarization states for a multilayer composed of two kinds of electrically thin layers agree well with reflectivities for a single layer with the same overall thickness and a volume-weighted average of the relative permittivities of these two components. But the relative standard deviation can be appreciable depending on the angle of incidence and the polarization state of the incident illumination, and increases with increasing difference between the constitutive parameters of the two layers. This suggests that average constitutive parameters obtained from effective-medium theories do not have uniform validity for all calculations in which they might be used.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2012

Bruggeman formalism vs. `Bruggeman formalism': Particulate composite materials comprising oriented ellipsoidal particles

Two different formalisms for the homogenization of composite materials containing oriented ellipsoidal particles of isotropic dielectric materials are being named after Bruggeman. Numerical studies reveal clear differences between the two formalisms which may be exacerbated: (i) if the component particles become more aspherical, (ii) at mid-range values of the volume fractions, and (iii) if the homogenized component material is dissipative. The correct Bruggeman formalism uses the correct polarizability density dyadics of the component particles, but the other formalism does not.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2011

Debye-Hueckel solution for steady electro-osmotic flow of a micropolar fluid in a cylindrical microcapillary

Analytic expressions for the speed, flux, microrotation, stress, and couple stress in a micropolar fluid exhibiting steady, symmetric and one-dimensional electro-osmotic flow in a uniform cylindrical microcapillary were derived under the constraint of the Debye-Hueckel approximation, which is applicable when the cross-sectional radius of the microcapillary exceeds the Debye length, provided that the zeta potential is sufficiently small in magnitude. As the aciculate particles in a micropolar fluid can rotate without translation, micropolarity influences fluid speed, fluid flux, and one of the two non-zero components of the stress tensor. The axial speed in a micropolar fluid intensifies as the radius increases. The stress tensor is confined to the region near the wall of the microcapillary but the couple stress tensor is uniform across the cross-section.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2011

Towards an experimental realization of affinely transformed linearized QED vacuum via inverse homogenization

Within the framework of quantum electrodynamics (QED), vacuum is a nonlinear medium which can be linearized for a rapidly time-varying electromagnetic field with a small amplitude subjected to a magnetostatic field. The linearized QED vacuum is a uniaxial dielectric-magnetic medium for which the degree of anisotropy is exceedingly small. By implementing an affine transformation of the spatial coordinates, the degree of anisotropy may become sufficiently large as to be readily perceivable. The inverse Bruggeman formalism can be implemented to specify a homogenized composite material (HCM) which is electromagnetically equivalent to the affinely transformed QED vacuum. This HCM can arise from remarkably simple component materials; for example, two isotropic dielectric materials and two isotropic magnetic materials, randomly distributed as oriented spheroidal particles.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2011

A simple construction for a cylindrical cloak via inverse homogenization

An effective cylindrical cloak may be conceptualized as an assembly of adjacent local neighbourhoods, each of which is made from a homogenized composite material (HCM). The HCM is required to be a certain uniaxial dielectric-magnetic material, characterized by positive-definite constitutive dyadics. It can arise from the homogenization of remarkably simple component materials, such as two isotropic dielectric-magnetic materials, randomly distributed as oriented spheroidal particles. By carefully controlling the spheroidal shape of the component particles, a high degree of HCM anisotropy may be achieved, which is necessary for the cloaking effect to be realized. The inverse Bruggeman formalism can provide estimates of the shape and constitutive parameters for the component materials, as well as their volume fractions.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2011

Grating-coupled excitation of multiple surface plasmon-polariton waves

The excitation of multiple surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves of different linear polarization states and phase speeds by a surface-relief grating formed by a metal and a rugate filter, both of finite thickness, was studied theoretically, using rigorous coupled-wave-analysis. The incident plane wave can be either p or s polarized. The excitation of SPP waves is indicated by the presence of those peaks in the plots of absorbance vs. the incidence angle that are independent of the thickness of the rugate filter. The absorbance peaks representing the excitation of s-polarized SPP waves are narrower than those representing p-polarized SPP waves. Two incident plane waves propagating in different directions may excite the same SPP wave. A line source could excite several SPP waves simultaneously.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2011

Towards a realization of Schwarzschild-(anti-)de Sitter spacetime as a particulate metamaterial

While metamaterials offer the potential to realize Tamm mediums which represent vacuous spacetime subjected to gravitational fields, practical formulations for suitable metamaterials have not hitherto been developed. This matter is addressed by establishing a metamaterial formulation for the Tamm medium representing Schwarzschild-(anti-)de Sitter spacetime. Our formulation is remarkably simple and does not involve a complex nanostructure of the type that is often associated with metamaterials. Instead it is based on the homogenization of only isotropic dielectric and isotropic magnetic component mediums, which are distributed randomly as oriented spheroidal particles. Using the inverse Bruggeman homogenization formalism, we demonstrated that a wide range of constitutive parameter values for the Tamm medium may be accessed through varying the particle shape, volume fraction or relative permittivity and relative permeability of the component mediums. The presented formulation is appropriate for the regions of spacetime which lie outside the event horizon for Schwarzschild spacetime and inside the event horizon for de Sitter spacetime; there are no such restrictions for anti-de Sitter spacetime.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2010

Ray trajectories for Alcubierre spacetime

The Alcubierre spacetime was simulated by means of a Tamm medium which is asymptotically identical to vacuum and has constitutive parameters which are ontinuous functions of the spatial coordinates. Accordingly, the Tamm medium is amenable to physical realization as a nanostructured metamaterial. A comprehensive characterization of ray trajectories in the Tamm medium was undertaken, within the geometric-optics regime. Propagation directions corresponding to evanescent waves were identified: these occur in the region of the Tamm medium which corresponds to the warp bubble of the Alcubierre spacetime, especially for directions perpendicular to the velocity of the warp bubble at high speeds of that bubble. Ray trajectories are acutely sensitive to the magnitude and direction of the warp bubble's velocity, but rather less sensitive to the thickness of the transition zone between the warp bubble and its background. In particular, for rays which travel in the same direction as the warp bubble, the latter acts as a focusing lens, most notably at high speeds.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2010

A Plethora of Negative-Refraction Phenomenons in Relativistic and Non-Relativistic Scenarios

In accordance with Snel's law of refraction, whether a plane wave is refracted in the negative sense or positive sense at a planar boundary between two homogenous mediums is determined solely by the orientation of the real parts of the wavevectors involved. Thus, negative refraction should be distinguished from the associated but independent phenomenons of negative phase velocity, counterposition and negative deflection of energy flux. None of these phenomenons is Lorentz covariant.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2010

Ray trajectories for a spinning cosmic string and a manifestation of self-cloaking

A study of ray trajectories was undertaken for the Tamm medium which represents the spacetime of a cosmic spinning string, under the geometric-optics approximation. Our numerical studies revealed that: (i) rays never cross the string's boundary; (ii) the Tamm medium supports evanescent waves in regions of phase space that correspond to those regions of the string's spacetime which could support closed timelike curves; and (iii) a spinning string can be slightly visible while a non-spinning string is almost perfectly invisible.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2010

Surface-plasmon-polariton wave propagation guided by a metal slab in a sculptured nematic thin film

Surface-plasmon-polariton~(SPP) wave propagation guided by a metal slab in a periodically nonhomogeneous sculptured nematic thin film~(SNTF) was studied theoretically. The morphologically significant planes of the SNTF on both sides of the metal slab could either be aligned or twisted with respect to each other. The canonical boundary-value problem was formulated, solved for SPP-wave propagation, and examined to determine the effect of slab thickness on the multiplicity and the spatial profiles of SPP waves. Decrease in slab thickness was found to result in more intense coupling of two metal/SNTF interfaces. But when the metal slab becomes thicker, the coupling between the two interfaces reduces and SPP waves localize to one of the two interfaces. The greater the coupling between the two metal/SNTF interfaces, the smaller is the phase speed.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2010

Surface-plasmon-polariton waves guided by the uniformly moving planar interface of a metal film and dielectric slab

We explored the effects of relative motion on the excitation of surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves guided by the planar interface of a metal film and a dielectric slab, both materials being isotropic and homogeneous. Electromagnetic phasors in moving and non-moving reference frames were related directly using the corresponding Lorentz transformations. Our numerical studies revealed that, in the case of a uniformly moving dielectric slab, the angle of incidence for SPP-wave excitation is highly sensitive to (i) the ratio $β$ of the speed of motion to speed of light in free space and (ii) the direction of motion. When the direction of motion is parallel to the plane of incidence, the SPP wave is excited by $p$-polarized (but not $s$-polarized) incident plane waves for low and moderate values of $β$, while at higher values of $β$ the total reflection regime breaks down. When the direction of motion is perpendicular to the plane of incidence, the SPP wave is excited by $p$-polarized incident plane waves for low values of $β$, but $s$-polarized incident plane waves at moderate values of $β$, while at higher values of $β$ the SPP wave is not excited. In the case of a uniformly moving metal film, the sensitivity to $β$ and the direction of motion is less obvious.

physics.optics↗