Light propagation in anisotropic metamaterials. I. Dispersion surfaces

Abstract

The peculiarities of solutions of the wave dispersion equation in an unbounded indefinite medium for arbitrarily oriented optical axes are considered. All possible dispersion surfaces arising in such media are described, and the conditions of their existence are obtained. It is shown that only some specific pairs of surfaces are possible. The dispersion equation for the boundary problem is obtained, as well as the dependence of dispersion curves on the orientation of optical axis is investigated. The nonreciprocity of the wave refraction is shown.