Reconciliation of generalized refraction with diffraction theory

When an electromagnetic wave is obliquely incident on the interface between two homogeneous media with different refractive indices, the requirement of phase continuity across the interface generally leads to a shift in the trajectory of the wave. When a linearly position-dependent phase shift is im...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 2012-06, Vol.37 (12), p.2391-2393
Main Authors: Larouche, Stéphane, Smith, David R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Continuity
Diffraction gratings
Diffraction theory
Electromagnetic waves
Law
Phase shift
Refraction
Refractivity
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Summary:When an electromagnetic wave is obliquely incident on the interface between two homogeneous media with different refractive indices, the requirement of phase continuity across the interface generally leads to a shift in the trajectory of the wave. When a linearly position-dependent phase shift is imposed at the interface, the resulting refraction may be described using a generalized version of Snell's law. In this Letter, we establish a formal equivalence between generalized refraction and blazed diffraction gratings, further discussing the relative merits of the two approaches.
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.37.002391