The transverse magnetic reflectivity minimum of metals

doi:10.1364/OE.16.007580

The transverse magnetic reflectivity minimum of metals

I. R. Hooper, J. R. Sambles, and A. P. Bassom »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 10, pp. 7580-7586 (2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.007580

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Abstract
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Abstract

Metal surfaces, which are generally regarded as excellent reflectors of electromagnetic radiation, may, at high angles of incidence, become strong absorbers for transverse magnetic radiation. This effect, often referred to as the pseudo-Brewster angle, results in a reflectivity minimum, and is most strongly evident in the microwave domain, where metals are often treated as perfect conductors. A detailed analysis of this reflectivity minimum is presented here and it is shown why, in the limit of very long wavelengths, metals close to grazing incidence have a minimum in reflectance given by (√2-1)².

OCIS Codes
(240.0240) Optics at surfaces : Optics at surfaces
(260.3910) Physical optics : Metal optics

ToC Category:
Physical Optics

History
Original Manuscript: March 31, 2008
Revised Manuscript: May 7, 2008
Manuscript Accepted: May 7, 2008
Published: May 9, 2008

Citation
I. R. Hooper, J. R. Sambles, and A. P. Bassom, "The transverse magnetic reflectivity minimum of metals," Opt. Express 16, 7580-7586 (2008)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-10-7580

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References

T. W. Ebbesen, H. J. Lezec, H. F. Ghaemi, T. Thio, and P. A. Wolff, "Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength hole arrays," Nature 391, 667-669 (1998). [CrossRef]
J. B. Pendry, "Negative refraction makes a perfect lens," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3966-3969 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. R. Smith, J. B. Pendry, and M. C. K. Wiltshire, "Metamaterials and negative refractive index," Science 305, 788-792 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. Schurig, J. J. Mock, B. J. Justice, S. A. Cummer, J. B. Pendry, A. F. Starr, and D. R. Smith, "Metamaterial electromagnetic cloak at microwave frequencies," Science 314, 977-980 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. B. Pendry, L. Martin-Moreno, and F. J. Garcia-Vidal, "Mimicking surface plasmons with structured surfaces," Science 305, 847-848 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. P. Hibbins, B. R. Evans, and J. R. Sambles, "Experimental verification of designer surface plasmons," Science 308, 670-672 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. A. Stratton, Electromagnetic Theory (McGraw Hill, 1941).
S. P. F. Humphreys-Owen, "Comparison of reflection methods for measuring optical constants without polarimetric analysis," Proc. Phys. Soc. 77, 949-957 (1961). [CrossRef]
E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic, 1985).
H. Raether, Surface Plasmons on Smooth and Rough surfaces (Springer-Verlag, 1988).
E. Kretschmann and H. Raether, "Radiative decay of non-radiative surface plasmons excited by light," Z. Naturforsch. Teil A 23, 2135-2136 (1968).
M. C. Hutley and D. Masytre, "The total absorption of light by a diffraction grating," Opt. Commun. 19, 431-436 (1976). [CrossRef]

Cummer, S. A.
Ebbesen, T. W.
Evans, B. R.
Garcia-Vidal, F. J.
Ghaemi, H. F.
Hibbins, A. P.
Humphreys-Owen, S. P. F.
Hutley, M. C.
Justice, B. J.
Kretschmann, E.
Lezec, H. J.
Martin-Moreno, L.
Masytre, D.
Mock, J. J.
Pendry, J. B.
Raether, H.
Sambles, J. R.
Schurig, D.
Smith, D. R.
Starr, A. F.
Thio, T.
Wiltshire, M. C. K.
Wolff, P. A.

Nature

T. W. Ebbesen, H. J. Lezec, H. F. Ghaemi, T. Thio, and P. A. Wolff, "Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength hole arrays," Nature 391, 667-669 (1998). [CrossRef]

Opt. Commun.

M. C. Hutley and D. Masytre, "The total absorption of light by a diffraction grating," Opt. Commun. 19, 431-436 (1976). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

J. B. Pendry, "Negative refraction makes a perfect lens," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3966-3969 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. Phys. Soc.

S. P. F. Humphreys-Owen, "Comparison of reflection methods for measuring optical constants without polarimetric analysis," Proc. Phys. Soc. 77, 949-957 (1961). [CrossRef]

Science

D. R. Smith, J. B. Pendry, and M. C. K. Wiltshire, "Metamaterials and negative refractive index," Science 305, 788-792 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. Schurig, J. J. Mock, B. J. Justice, S. A. Cummer, J. B. Pendry, A. F. Starr, and D. R. Smith, "Metamaterial electromagnetic cloak at microwave frequencies," Science 314, 977-980 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. B. Pendry, L. Martin-Moreno, and F. J. Garcia-Vidal, "Mimicking surface plasmons with structured surfaces," Science 305, 847-848 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. P. Hibbins, B. R. Evans, and J. R. Sambles, "Experimental verification of designer surface plasmons," Science 308, 670-672 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Z. Naturforsch. Teil A

E. Kretschmann and H. Raether, "Radiative decay of non-radiative surface plasmons excited by light," Z. Naturforsch. Teil A 23, 2135-2136 (1968).

Other

E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic, 1985).
H. Raether, Surface Plasmons on Smooth and Rough surfaces (Springer-Verlag, 1988).
J. A. Stratton, Electromagnetic Theory (McGraw Hill, 1941).

2006, Schurig, Science
2005, Hibbins, Science
2004, Smith, Science
2004, Pendry, Science
2000, Pendry, Phys. Rev. Lett.
1998, Ebbesen, Nature
1976, Hutley, Opt. Commun.
1968, Kretschmann, Z. Naturforsch. Teil A
1961, Humphreys-Owen, Proc. Phys. Soc.

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