Content

• The dielectric tensor of an anisotropic

medium
4. Electromagnetic propagation in • Plane-wave propagation in anisotropic
anisotropic media medium
• The index ellipsoid
• Phase velocity, group velocity, and energy
velocity
• Classification of anisotropic media (crystal)
• Light propagation in uniaxial crystals
http://webphysics.davidson.edu/alumni/MiLee/JLab/Crystallography_WWW/birefringence.htm

The dielectric tensor of an

Content (cont’d)
anisotropic medium
• Double refraction at a boundary General medium
D  εE   0 E  P
P   0 χ E
• Light propagation in Biaxial crystals
• Optical activity Electric susceptibility tensor
Px   0 11 E x  12 E y  13 E z 
• Faraday rotation Py   0  21 E x   22 E y   23 E z 
Pz   0  31 E x   32 E y   33 E z 
• Coupled-mode analysis of wave
Choose the axes to diagonize the susceptibility tensor
propagation in anisotropic media Px   0 11 E x
These axes are called the principle axes.
• Equation of motion for the polarization P   E
y 0 22 y

Pz   0  33 E z 
state
 The dielectric tensor of an Poynting’s theorem and
anisotropic medium (cont’d) conservation laws E 
B
0
t
Px   0 11 E x  12 E y  13 E z 
D
Py   0  21 E x   22 E y   23 E z  H 
t
J J E
Pz   0  31 E x   32 E y   33 E z 
Dx   11 E x   12 E y   13 E z
D y   21 E x   22 E y   23 E z D  εE   0 E  P
Dz   31 E x   32 E y   33 E z
S 1 
 ij   0 1   ij 
Assume no nonlinear effect H  B  E  D
2 t
Di   ij E j
1 1 Energy density of the
U e  E  D  Ei ij E j
2 2 EM fields
Take the derivative
1 1 Poynting vector [joule/m2s] indicates the power flow.
1 Ue  E  D  E   E
U e   ij  E i E j  Ei E j  or 2 2
2   S represents the EM power flowing out of a unit volume.
U e  E   E  E   E

 1 
2

The dielectric tensor of an Plane-wave propagation in

anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium
When an EM wave propagates in an anisotropic media, its polarization
Poynting’s theorem may change along its propagation.
U
   S  J  E  0
t A set of eigen-vector can be found that an EM wave with polarization
1 1
U Ue  E  D  E   E along the eigen-vector direction can propagate along the anisotropic
 S  2 2 media without changing it’s polarization direction. The eigen vectors
t
U e  E 
1 
  E  E   E corresponds to their eigen-phase-velocity and eigen-indices of
2 refractions.
Plane wave Propagation
 direction unit
E exp i  t  k  r   k  nsˆ
c vector
H exp i  t  k  r  
Ei ij E j  U e   ij E i E j  Ei E j 
1 B
E  0
2 t
 ij   ji D
The permittivity is H  0
symmetry. Only 6 t
elements are needed. k  E   H
k   k  E   2 E  0
 ij   ji For complex [].
*
k  H   E
 Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in
anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
Along principle axes the dielectric permittivity can be written as: k  k  E   2  εE  0
 x 0 0 
    k y2  k z2 kxk y k x k z  E x   x 0 0  E x 
ε   0  y 0  
 k ykx  k x2  k z2
  
k y k z  E y    2   0 y
 
0  E y   0
0 0    kk
k  k  E   2  εE  0
 z
 kzk y  k x2  k y2  E z  0
 0  z  E z 
a  b  c   a  c b  a  b c
z x

  2  0  k y2  k z2  E x 
 k y k x E y  k y E x   k z k z E x  k x E z 
kxk y kxkz
  
   x   2  0  k x2  k z2  E y   0
 k z k y E z  k z E y   k x k x E y  k y E x 
0 0  E x  k ykx kykz
    2  
 k k E  k E   k k E  k E   2 0 y 0  E y   k z k x k z k y  2
 0  k 2
x  k y  E z 
 x z x z y  0  z  E z 
x z y y z
 0
  k y2  k z2 kxk y k x k z  E x  For non-trivial E-field solution
  
  k ykx  k x2  k z2 k y k z  E y   2  x  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz
 kk 2 
 k x  k y  E z 
2
 z x kzk y det k ykx  2  y  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0
kzkx kzk y  2  z  k x2  k y2

Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in

anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
 2  x  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz nx2
2  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz
det k ykx  2  y  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0 c2
n y2
kzkx kzk y  2  z  k x2  k y2 det k ykx 2  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0
c2
1 n2
 0  2 kzkx kzk y  z2  k x2  k y2
2

c c
1  1 c2 n2
 x  2 x  2 2  x2
  n   n2
2
c  0 c vx c  2 nx2 
  2  k y2  k z2     2 2y  k x2  k z2     2 2z  k x2  k y2   2k x2 k y2 k z2
 
 c   c   c 
nx2
2  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz  n2   n2   n2 
c2    2 2x  k y2  k z2   k y2 k z2    2 2y  k x2  k z2   k x2 k z2    2 z2  k x2  k y2   k x2 k y2  0
n y2  c 
 c     c 
det k ykx 2  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0
c2
n2   2 k y2 k z2    2 k x2 k z2    2 k x2 k y2  k 2k 2k 2
 2z  k x2  k y2
2  2  2  2    2  2  2    2  2  2   2 x2 y2 z2
kzkx kzk y c 
nx nx   c  
ny ny   c nz nz   nx n y nz
c 
  2 k y2 k z2  k y2 k z2   2 k x2 k z2  k x2 k z2   2 k x2 k y2  k x2 k y2
 2  2  2  2 2  2  2  2  2 2  2  2  2  2 2  0
c nx nx  n y nz  c n y n y  nx nz  c nz nz  nx n y

 Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in
anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
 2  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y 
2 2 2 2
4  2  x  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz
  
c 4
c 
2
n 2
x ny2
nz 
2
det k ykx  2  y  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0
 k y2  k z2   k x2  k z2   k x2  k z2   k x2  k y2   k y2  k z2   k x2  k y2  kzkx kzk y  2  z  k x2  k y2
       
 n2   n2   n2   n2   n2   n2 
 x   y   y   z   x   z  1
 0 
 k 2  k 2   k 2  k 2   k 2  k 2  c2 k 2k 2k 2 c2 c2
  x 2 y    x 2 z    y 2 z   2  2 x2 y2 z2 2 1  1 c2 n2
 n   n   n   nx n y nz 
 z   y   x   x  2 x  2 2  x2
c  0 c vx c
c 2 
 k k  k k
2 2 2 2 2
c 2   k 2  k 2  k 2k 2 c2
2   2 k 2  k 2  k 2k 2
 2   2  y 2 z   y2 z2  2   2  x 2 z   x2 z2  2   2  x 2 y   x2 y2  0
  c nx  n y nz   c n y  nx nz  c nz  nx n y  2  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2 k2 
2 2 2 2
4 k y2

c 4

c 
2
n 2

ny2

nz   n y nz nx nz nx n y 
2  
 
 2 2  2 2  2 z 2  k x2  k y2  k z2  0
x

4  2  k y  k z
2 2
k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2
2 2
k y2 k2  The solution in k-space is called the normal surfaces. The solution
c 4

c  2
n 2

ny2

nz   n y nz nx nz nx n y 
2

 2 2  2 2  2 z 2  k x2  k y2  k z2  0  contains two shells which has 4 common intersection points.
x

k ns
c

Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in

anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
 2  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2 k2   2  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2 k2 
2 2 2 2
4 k2 4
2 2 2 2
k2
     y  z k x2  k y2  k z2   0      y  z k x2  k y2  k z2   0
c4 c 2  nx2 n 2y nz2   n 2y nz2 nx2 nz2 nx2 n 2y  c4 c 2  nx2 n y2 nz2   n y2 nz2 nx2 nz2 nx2 n 2y 

Consider on y-axis k x  k z  0
2
k 2
 k y2  k z2   k 
2
n 2
 n y2  nz2 
4  2k y2  1 1  1  2 2
 k y   0
x 2 x
c    
c4 c 2  n x2 n z2   n x2n z2 
 2  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2 k2 
2 2 2 2
k2
    2 2  2 y 2  2 z 2 nx2  n 2y  nz2   0 Solve k y
c 2 n 2
ny2
nz   n y nz nx nz nx n y 
2
 2
 2 nx2  nz2  2 n2  n2  4 1
x

  2 x 2 2z  4 4 2 2
  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y  k x2 nx2 k y k z2 k x2 k y n y k z2 k x2 k y k z2 nz2 c n x nz  2  n x2  nz2    n x2  nz2 
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2
            0 c nn  c n x z 
n
k y2   2
x z
c 2  nx2 n 2y nz2  n y2 nz2 nz2 n 2y nz2 nx2 nz2 nx2 n y2 nx2 nx2 n 2y 2 c 2
2 2
n x nz
2 2
2 k x2 nx2 k y n y k z2 nz2
2
 2 2
 2 2  2 2 0  
c n y nz nx nz nx n y ky  nx or ky  nz
c c
Two solutions!
 Plane-wave propagation in
Biaxial crystal – better picture
anisotropic medium (cont’d)
In k-space
Solutions on y-axis

 
ky  n x or nz
c c

Two special directions get

the degenerated solution.

The optical axes!

E V Kuznetsov and A M Merzlikin 2017 J. Opt. 19 055610

Plane-wave propagation in
Demo on wolfram
anisotropic medium (cont’d)
For arbitrary propagation direction, two value of k are obtained. Each k value
corresponds to a phase velocity  /k.

The eigenvalue, electric field along different direction, can also be obtained.
 kx 
 2 
 k   2  x 
 Ex 
E    ky 
 y   k 2   2  
E   y 
 z  
k
 2 z 2 
 k    z 

The two phase velocities along the same k direction are always having mutually
orthogonal polarization to each other.
Problem 4.1 is the proof.

Propagating along the optical axes, there is only one value of k which implies
only one phase velocity.
https://demonstrations.wolfram.com/UniaxialBiaxialBirefringenceGeometricalConstructionsForOptic/
 Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in
anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
 2  x  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz x
Unit directional  s y2  s z2 sx s y sx sz
det k ykx  2  y  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0 n 2 0
vector y
kzkx kzk y  2  z  k x2  k y2 det s y sx  s x2  s z2 s y sz 0
 n 2 0
k ns  z
c k x  k sx  ns x sz sx sz s y  s x2  s y2
1 c n 2 0
 0  
x c2 k y  k sy  ns y
 n 2 s y2  n 2 s z2 n2 sx s y n 2 sx sz c  x     
0 z  2  s 2y  s z2  2 y  s x2  s z2  2 z  s x2  s y2   s y s x  s z s y  s x s z  s z s x  s x s y  s y s z
  n 0  n  0  n  0 
y k z  k sz  ns z
det n 2 s y sx  n 2 s x2  n 2 s z2 n 2 s y sz 0 c  y 2  x    
sz
0  s z s x  s x s z   2  s x  s z   s z s y  s y s z   2  s y2  s z2   s y s x  s x s y   2 z  s x2  s 2y   0
2

n 2 sz sx n 2 sz s y
z
 n 2 s x2  n 2 s 2y   n 0   n 0   n 0 
0 
  x     
sx sy  2  s 2y  s z2  2 y  s x2  s z2  2 z  s x2  s 2y   2 s x2 s y2 s z2
 n 0  n  0  n  0 
s x  cos  y
y 2 2  2 2 2  x 2   
x s y  cos   s x s z   2  s x  s z   s y s z   2  s y  s z   s x2 s y2   2 z  s x2  s 2y   0
2 2

 n 0   n 0   n 0 
s z  cos 

Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in

anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
1  x       x 1   y 1   z 1 
  s y2  s z2  2 y  s x2  s z2  2 z  s x2  s y2   2  
s x2 s y2 s z2  n 2 0  n  0  n  0   n 2 s 2  s 2  1 n 2 s 2  s 2  1 n 2 s 2  s 2  1  2
 0 x x  0 y y  0 z z 
1  y  1    1     x 1   y 1   z 1 
   2  s x2  s z2   2   2 x  s y2  s z2   2   2 z  s x2  s y2   0   2 2  2  1   2 2  2  1   2 2  2  1  0
s y2  n 0  sx  n 0  sz  n 0   n  0 sx sx

  n 0sy sy
 n s
  0 z sz 

 1  x         
s 2  s 2    2  2  1  1 12  2 y  1  1 12  2 z  1  1  2
 x 2 
s2  s2 
 2 2  y 2 z  2 y 2  s x 2 s z  2 z 2  x 2 y   2
2

n  s   s n    s  n    s  n   
 0 x

s x  n  0 s y 
s y  n  0 s z s z   x 0   y  0   z  0  
  s2  s2    s2  s2    s2  s2  1    1    1   
 2 x 2  y 2 z  2 y 2  x 2 z  2 z 2  x 2 y   0   2  2 x  1  1   2  2 y  1  1   2  2 z  1  1  0
 
n  s
 0 x s x
 n  s
  0 y s y
 n  s
  0 z s z   sx  n  0    s y  n  0    sz  n  0  
s x2  s y2  s z2  1 1  x   y   
  1  1 z  1
 x 1 s   y
2
1  s   2
1 s  2 s x2 s y2 s z2  n 2 0  n 2 0  n 2 0 
 2 2  2  2 2  2  2 z 2  2   2
x y z
 s y  n  0 s z
 n  0 sx sx  n  0 s y sz  1  x

 1  y  1  y 1   1  1  
  1   1    1  z  1   z  1  x  1
 x 1  s x2    y 1  s y2    z 1 s2  s x2  n 2 0  s 2y  n 2 0  s y2  n 2 0  s z2  n 2 0  s z2  n 2 0  s x2  n 2 0 
  2 2  2   2 2  2    2 2  2 z   0
s x   n  0 s y s y   n  0 s z 3 0
 n  0 sx sz 
 Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in
anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
1  x     
  n 2  y  n 2  z  n 2  The associated E-field direction
s x2 s y2 s z2   0   0   0 
 1   1     
1 x  1   1   1   kx
 2 x
s

 n2   n 2  2  y  n 2   2  y  n 2  2  z  n 2   2  z  n 2  2  x  n 2   0  2 
s x2   0     n   x 0 
2
 y 0
s   y 0
s   z 0
s   z 0
s   x 0
s    k  
x
k  ns  
 ky  c s
 2   2 y 
   2  z  2  2  x  2  z  2  2  x  2  y   k    y  k  k s   ns
2
 n   y 0 
s x2  n 2  y  n    s y  n   n    s z  n   n     x x x  
 0  0    0  0    0  0  1 k
 2 z 2 
c  2 sz 
 n   y 0 
 2  x  2  y  2  z  n2  k    z  k y  k s y   ns y  
 n   n   n   c
  0   0  0 

k z  k s z  ns z
s y2 c
s x2 s z2 1
   Fresnel’s eq. of wave normals
  z n2
n  x
2
n2  y n 
2

0 0 0 E-field direction is associate the polarization direction.

Can be used to solve for the eigen-indices of refraction.

Plane-wave propagation in
Maxwell’s Eqs. (Different concerns)
anisotropic medium (cont’d) D and E do not need to have the same direction.
s x2 s y2
1 s z2 B D  ε  E   0E  P
   E 0
x y  z n2 t
n 
2
n 
2
n 
2
B   μ  H  0  H  M  Strong field
0 0 0 D
H  J
t
Since this equation is quadratic, each direction of propagation (sx,sy,sz) Isotropic media
D  
can give two n2 solutions. Says n12 , n22
B  0 D  E   E  P D   ε( E, Η) E   0E  P( E, Η)
 s  0
Put the solutions into  2 x  We can obtain the E-field vectors or B   H  0  H  M  B  μ(E, Η) H  0H  0M(E, Η)
 n   x  0  polarizations of the solutions. No free source
 s  Nonlinear optics!
 2 y 
 n   y 0  B P   0 χ  E
E 0
  t M  χ M  H
 2 sz 
 n   y 0  D
  H  0
t Using these will lead to D  H  s
Two solutions and the corresponding fields and displacements
D  0
n12  E1  D1 B  0
Eigen-waves associated n, E and D.
n22  E 2  D 2
SI unit 28
 Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in
anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
D1,2  s n
D  0 D   sH
implies the displacement is perpendicular to wave vector s. c A  B  C  BA  C   CA  B 
n
H sE
D1  D 2  0 implies two solutions have perpendicular displacements. c E  s   s  E E
Problem 4.1
n  n 
D   s   s  E 
D1 , D 2 , s are mutually perpendicular! c  c  s
From MW eqs. s  s  E
n2
s  s  E
Etransverse
n 
D   sH c2
c
sD  0 sD  0 n2
H
n
sE D E  ss  E
c D, H and s are mutually perpendicular. c2
sH  0 n2
 n 2 0
c2
E and H are mutually perpendicular, but E and D may not. E-field has component along wave
n2
DD  E  ss  E D propagation direction!
Poynting vector S  E  H c2
D 2  n 2 0 E  D 1
Wave propagation vector might be off from the energy flow. This will link to E-field energy U e  E  D
2

Plane-wave propagation in Plane-wave propagation in

anisotropic medium (cont’d) anisotropic medium (cont’d)
D E
Two displacements and fields: Orthogonality properties of the eigenmodes
D, H and s are mutually
D1  D 2  0 perpendicular. Lorentz reciprocity theorem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_reciprocity

D1  E2  0
D 2  E1  0 H 
kn s
s  D1  s  D 2  0 c n
H sE
S  E H c
E1 and E2 fields are usually not orthogonal to each other.
The orthogonality relation of the eigenmodes of propagation is often written as
s   E1  H 2   0

The power flow in an anisotropic medium along the direction of

propagation is the sum of the power carried by each mode individually. Valid for any n and propagation s

If and only if both side are 0.

s  E1  H 2   0  0  s  E 2  H1 
 Lorentz reciprocity theorem The index ellipsoid
1 1
U e  E  D  Ei ij E j
The relationship between an oscillating current and the resulting electric 2 2
field is unchanged if one interchanges the points where the current is Take coordinates along
placed and where the field is measured. principle axes Di   i Ei D
~r
Dx2 D y2 Dz2 2U e
   2U e
x y z i
or ni2 
0
x2 y2 z2
  1
the volume V entirely contains both of the localized n x2 n 2y nz2 Ellipsoid!
sources (or alternatively if V intersects neither of the Index ellipsoid
sources) Optical indicatrix

Will talk about how to use the index ellipsoid later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_reciprocity

The index ellipsoid (cont’d) The index ellipsoid (cont’d)

Define impermeability tensor
D
 s  s  ηD   0
η   0 ε1 D   0 ε E n
n2 0
D   sH   sD  0
Choose a coordinate that s   0 
ε D  η D
1 1
c
E
0 0 H
n
sE propagation is along one axis  1 
c  D1 
 
D   D2 
n  n
D   s  
η 
s  D
 0 
 
c   c  0 
D s  s  ηD will not contain the third component.
 s  s  ηD  0 Since we know 13 and 23 can be ignored.
n2 
kn s 11 12 13 
c η   21  22  23 
D is always transverse to s and k. 11 12 13   D1   D111  D212 
 0 0 0 
sD  0 ηD   21 22  23   D2    D1 21  D2 22 
 0 0 0   0   0 
11 12 
ηt     Rewrite the transverse impermeability tensor/matrix
 21  22 
 The index ellipsoid (cont’d) The index ellipsoid (cont’d)
11 12  The use of index ellipsoid.
ηt   
D 1. Determine the light propagation s vector
 s  s  ηD   0 
n2  21  22  starting from the center of the ellipsoid
nD1
s
Eigen-equation! D1
 1 
 ηt   2 D  0 22 matrix, 2 eigenvectors/values
2. Find the surface normal to s vector and the
 n  surface intersect with the ellipsoid to a ellipse.
nD2 D 2
Let 1 ,  2 , 3  be the coordinate of an arbitrary point in the new coordinate
system. 3. Find the long and short axes of the ellipse.
These directions correspond ito two eigen-modes,
The general form of index ellipsoid in this coordinate system is expressed as D1 and D2.

(Don’t be scared. This is just a fancy way to write 4. The value of refractive index on the long and
   1
 ,  1, 2 , 3
   x2 y2 z2 xy
 2  2  2 2  ...  1 short axes, nD1 and nD2 , are the normal mode
n112 n22 n33 n12
refractive indices to be used.
The intersection of the index ellipsoid and the plane 3 = 0 is
1112   22 22  2121 2  1 An ellipse! Decompose the incident D into D1 and D2 and use the corresponding nD1 and nD2.
  The eigenvectors are along the
ηt    11 12  principle axes of the ellipse.
 21  22 

The index ellipsoid (cont’d) The index ellipsoid (cont’d)

Find the s vector
Two optical axes can be found!
Obtain the intersection ellipse

Same refractive indices!

This s vector is along the optical axis!

Any given ellipsoid can have two optical axes.

 The index ellipsoid (cont’d) The index ellipsoid (cont’d)
In general, the refractive indices are different. (Intersection ellipse is “ellipse”.)
Other than the optical axis direction, follow the
guidance of using index ellipsoid.

Only s propagates along optical

axis give equal refractive index.

Phase velocity, group velocity, and Phase velocity, group velocity, and
energy velocity energy velocity (cont’d)
 2  x  k y2  k z2 kxk y kxkz From Maxwell’s eq. of harmonic wave
det k ykx  2  y  k x2  k z2 k ykz 0 D  ε E
B
kzkx kzk y  2  z  k x2  k y2 E  0 B  μ H
t
D
4  2  k y  k z
2 2
k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2
2 2
k2 k2  H  J0 E  E 0 e i  t k r 
     y  z k x2  k y2  k z2   0 t
c 4
c 
2
n 2
x n 2y nz2   n 2y nz2 nx2 nz2 nx2 n 2y  D    0 H  H 0 e i  t k r 

Contain information of phase velocity and group velocity. B  0

By definition k  E   μ H d  xy    dx  y  x  dy 
The energy velocity is defined as
vp 

s S
Infinitesimal change k  H   ε E
k ve 
U
v g   k k  Phase velocity is phase moving speed. k  k k
Therefore, it’s collinear with s.     
Group velocity is normal to the normal E  E  E  k  E  k   E    μ H   μ  H
surface in k-space. Goal of this section is to show v e  v g
H  H H  k  H  k   H    ε E   ε  E
 Phase velocity, group velocity, and Phase velocity, group velocity, and
energy velocity (cont’d) energy velocity (cont’d)
 k  E  k   E    μ H   μ  H
k  E   μ H
 k  H  k   H    ε E   ε  E
k  H   ε E
H    
A   B  C  B   C  A   C   A  B  0
E     2 k  E  H     H  μ H  E  ε E    H   μ H  k  E    E   ε E  k  H 
 k  E  H   k   E  H     H  μ H    H  μ H 
 k  H  E   k   H  E     E  ε E    E  ε E 
1
 k  E  H     H  μ H  E  ε E 
  k  E  H  2 By definition
S U v g   k  k 

2 k  E  H   k   E  H   k   H  E     H  μ H  E  ε E    H  μ H  E  ε E   k  S   U     k    k  v g   k
S
H  μ  H   H  μ H    k    k  v e
For symmetry reason U
E  ε  E   E  ε E

2 k  E  H     H  μ H  E  ε E    H   μ H  k  E    E   ε E  k  H  ve  v g

Phase velocity, group velocity, and

Crystallographic point group
energy velocity (cont’d)
Hermann–Mauguin notation
If  k is along the tangential direction of the normal surfaces,   0
0
1 Constant  surfaces
 k  E  H     H  μ H  E  ε E 
2

 k   E  H   0

n̂

E and H are both on the tangential plane.

H
 k Poynting vector is normal to the normal
surfaces. S  n̂S
E
k However, k and S are not necessary to
k   k be parallel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystallographic_point_group
 Classification of anisotropic media
(crystals)
The normal surface is uniquely determined by the principal indices of
refractions nx, ny, nz.

If all these three principle indices are different, it’s biaxial.

If any of the two indices are identical, it’s uniaxial.
If all these three principle indices are identical, it’s isotropic.

 4  2  k y  k z k x2  k z2 k x  k y   k x2 k2 
2 2 2 2
k y2

c 4 c 2  nx2

n 2y

nz2
 
  n2n2 n2n2 n2n2  x
 
 z  k 2  k y2  k z2  0
  y z x z x y 

 k x2  k y2 k z2  2  k 2  2 
  2  2  2  2   0 Optical axis along z-direction
 n2 no c  no c 
 e

360 k2 2
Number indicates the symmetry rotation angle    0
n no2 c 2
Bar indicates rotoinversion symmetry.
“m” indicates mirror plane.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_group

Classification of anisotropic media Classification of anisotropic media

(crystals) (cont’d) (crystals) (cont’d)
The optical symmetry of the crystals is closely related to the point
group of the point group of cyrstals.
Classification of anisotropic media Classification of anisotropic media
(crystals) (cont’d) (crystals) (cont’d)
Positive Negative
uniaxial uniaxial
Biaxial

In an uniaxial crystal, the index of refraction that corresponds to the

two equal elements is called the ordinary index no; the other index is
called the extraordinary index ne.
In a biaxial crystal, the principle coordinate axes are labeled in such a ne > no: positive
way that the three principle indices are in the following order: no > ne: negative  k x2  k y2 k z2  2  k 2  2 
  2  2  2  2   0
 n2 no c  no c 
 e

Extraordinary Ordinary

Light propagation in uniaxial

Indicatrix
crystals
x2 y2 z 2 c k c
  1 do 
no2 no2 ne2 de
k c
k
do do  k
b de 
do  k
a
Since x and y are symmetry, we can always
ne  
choose k in one direction only.

When angle  changes, the polarization

of o-ray remains the same with index no,
no but e-ray changes polarization and index
correspondingly. E-ray index varies from
no to ne when  changes from optical axis
to y-axis.
1 cos2  sin 2 
  2
ne  
2
no2 ne
 Light propagation in uniaxial Light propagation in uniaxial
crystals (cont’d) crystals (cont’d)
 k x2  k y2 k z2  2  k 2  2  The propagation of light in an uniaxial
  2  2  2  2   0 crystal in general consists of o-ray and e-
 n2 no c  no c 
   De
k z  n  cos  ray.
e

c Ee
kx  0 E and D vectors of o-ray are always
2 perpendicular to c-axis (z-axis) and k-vector
2  
k y2  n    k z2 and the phase velocity of o-ray is always c/no.
c  kx 
1 cos  sin 
2 2
 2 
  2
 k    x
2
ne2   no2 ne  For e-ray, E and D vectors are not parallel.
 ky 
 2  O-ray E-ray
 k    y
2

    Eo  c Ee  c
 0  k
 2 z 2 
  Do  c De  c
 sin    k    z 
E-field vector Eo  k Ee  k
 2 2 
 e  o
n   n In general, not perpendicular to k-vector Do  k De  k Ee is at the same plane of De and k.
 cos  
 n 2    n 2  Also, note that E o  E e
 e e 

 
Double refraction at a boundary  
uˆn  E1  E2  0
Tangential E-field component continuous at the
interface

A plane wave incident to an anisotropic crystal, the refracted wave is

the linear combination of the two eigenmodes, e-ray and o-ray.
The propagation k-vectors are on the same plane, plane of incident, or
according to the argument given in fundamental of optics.

Kinematics condition
or
Snell’s law
This B.C. holds at any t.
At the incident point, y = b, three
field must have precisely the same
The most general case, k1 and function dependence.
k2 are functions of incident
angle .
Frequency won’t change since the media are linear: Since
They are all in the same plane.
Therefore, Similarly,

is also normal to the surface

This implies that the collection of r forms a plane

which is exactly the boundary surface since its
Snell’s law!
independent from x and z.
has no component on the interface
Three wave vectors and the interface surface normal
In the same medium: ki  k r vectors are in the same plane, plane of incidence.

Law of reflection!

Double refraction at a boundary Double refraction at a boundary

(cont’d) (cont’d)
For an uniaxial crystal, o-ray
normal surface is a sphere. The
propagation constant ko is a
constant of angle . Therefore, Snell’s law
Double refraction at a boundary Double refraction at a boundary
(cont’d) (cont’d)