Polarization conversion of reflected electromagnetic wave from topological insulator

Abstract

Based on the special electromagnetic properties of a 3D strong topological insulator (TI), we discuss, theoretically, the reflection of electromagnetic wave at the interface between a dielectric and a TI, and focus on the polarization conversion between the incident field and reflected field. Two cases, linear polarization and elliptical polarization at oblique incidence are considered. We derive the conditions required for the complete polarization conversion from incident s polarization into reflected p polarization, and vice versa. Furthermore, elliptical polarization incidence also can be modulated to linear or circular polarization after reflection, under special conditions, and the corresponding reflectivity can approach 1. All these special polarization behaviors originate from the intrinsic topological magnetoelectric coupling response in TI. This work provides promising applications of TIs on polarized devices and the polarization splitters.