Polarization-state-dependent attenuation and amplification in a columnar thin film

Abstract

We numerically investigated the plane-wave reflection-transmission characteristics of a columnar thin film (CTF) whose columns are made from a dissipative material but whose void regions are filled with an active material. By computing the reflectances and transmittances, we found that the CTF can simultaneously amplify s-polarized incident light and attenuate p-polarized incident light, or vice versa. This polarization-state-dependent attenuation and amplification phenomenon depends upon the angle of incidence and the thickness of the CTF.

Simultaneous existence of amplified and attenuated Dyakonov surface waves

“…Furthermore, a multilaminate structure comprising alternate active and dissipative component layers may be theoretically equivalent to a birefringent material in which planewave polarization states can be controlled [7]. Homogenization formalisms also predict the possibilities of (i) an isotropic chiral material in which circularly polarized light of one handedness is amplified but circularly polarized light of the other handedness is attenuated [8], and (ii) a biaxial dielectric material which amplifies incident light of one linear polarization state but absorbs incident light of the orthogonal polarization state [9].…”