Propagation of electromagnetic plane waves in some directions in gravitationally affected vacuum over limited ranges of spacetime can be such that the phase velocity vector casts a negative projection on the time–averaged Poynting vector. This conclusion suggests, inter alia, gravitationally assisted negative refraction by vacuum.

In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional (3-D) measurement method of objects in liquid with a laser range finder. When applying vision sensors to measuring objects in liquid, we meet the problem of an image distortion. It is caused by the refraction of the light on the boundary between the air and the liquid, and the distorted image brings errors in a triangulation for the range measuremen...

We numerically investigate the propagation of light through the photonic crystal (PhC) waveguide on low refraction index material for near-field light focusing at the visible wavelength (635 nm) by incorporating a center air slot and Fabry-Perot resonator on the scanning tip. Perturbations by water and substrate refraction index changes of the PhC are analyzed by the finite-difference time-doma...

We study strain localization in slow shear flow focusing on layered granular materials. A heretofore unknown effect is presented here. We show that shear zones are refracted at material interfaces in analogy with refraction of light beams in optics. This phenomenon can be obtained as a consequence of a recent variational model of shear zones. The predictions of the model are tested and confirme...

The recent demonstration of a metamaterial phase hologram so thin that it can be classified as an interface in the effective-medium approximation [Science 334, 333 (2011)] has dramatically increased interest in generalized laws of refraction. Based on the fact that scalar wave optics allows only certain light-ray fields, we divide generalized laws of refraction into two categories. When applied...

Some Problems with Negative Refraction* by John Michael Williams P. O. Box 2697, Redwood City, CA 94064 [email protected] Abstract J. B. Pendry's "Negative Refraction Makes a Perfect Lens" is analyzed. It appears that several statements may be understood in terms of lens design but not in terms of fundamental behavior of light. In a recent Letter, "Negative Refraction Makes a Perfect Lens" (P...

It has been shown that an anisotropic metamaterial made of nanowire array can realize negative refraction of light even without a negative phase index of refraction. Such non-resonant bulk material can be fabricated by bottom-up electrochemical method. Using this material, we were able to achieve lensing action with micron-thick slab and demonstrate imaging of a slit object. The details of the ...

Light propagation in a cholesteric medium has been completely discussed by de Vries [2]. The main results are that, for a given frequency, there are two eigenvibrations with quasi-circular polarizations, except i) for high frequencies and ii) near the reflection band (for the vibration having total reflection), where the polarization is linear. Looking at light refracted by a cholesteric prism,...

In this paper, the scattering of a plane monochromatic electromagnetic wave from a nanowire with circular cross-section in the transverse electric (TE) mode is simulated using the well-known Stratton-Chu surface integral equations. For an ordinary dielectric nanowire the refraction phenomenon is nicely simulated. In the case of a plasmonic nanowire no sign of surface plasmon excitation and prop...

The grass shrimp (Palaemonetes vulgaris) orients itself by means of the polarization pattern of the sky visible through Snell's window of the water surface. The celestial polarization pattern viewed from water is distorted and modified because of refraction and repolarization of skylight at the air-water interface. This work provides a quantitative account of the repolarization of skylight tran...