All Questions
11
questions
3
votes
5
answers
491
views
Variations in Refractive Index of Materials
It's quite a common fact that different types of glass have different refractive indices. Most sites I've found attribute these differences to variations in the 'density' of the glass, which is not ...
- 1,538
1
vote
4
answers
214
views
How can the speed of light in matter be measured?
Experiments such as Focault's measure speed of light in matter. Focault's experimental set-up is based on the idea that it takes more time for light to travel through matter, which will result in the ...
- 1,171
2
votes
2
answers
78
views
Is magneto-optic Kerr effect discernible for material with natural optical activity?
Magneto-optic Kerr effect requires a system with internal magnetism or external magnetic field and exhibits, say, circular dichroism for reflection measurements. Natural optical activity can have ...
- 3,701
1
vote
0
answers
57
views
Reflection coefficient phase using Kramers Kronig, formula equivalence
Why are the following two formulas for the phase of the reflection coefficient equivalent (according e.g. to [1])?
\begin{align}
\Theta(\omega_0) & = - \frac{\omega_0}{\pi}P\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{...
- 11
4
votes
2
answers
233
views
Are there any real-world examples of refraction of light by magnetic permeability?
The question Fresnel Transmission Coefficient for Magnetic Field is interesting.
Thinking about it led me to reflect upon what little I know of the history of optics, with refraction by lenses and ...
- 6,273
0
votes
1
answer
58
views
What is the gain control technique used in optics?
In optics, it is said that The gain bandwidth and gain flatness of Amplifiers are enhanced utilizing gain control techniques.What techniques are they referring to ?
I know the automatic volume ...
- 115
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What is so special about calcite that it has double refraction?
In this video is explained how the double refraction occurs. But it explains that if the ordinairy ray is horizontal and the extraordinairy is vertical that the first one gets less delayed than the ...
- 3,348
6
votes
0
answers
245
views
Are there yet Optical Magnetic Mirrors (OMMs) which reflect via interaction with the magnetic field?
update 2021: As the question has remained unanswered for five years and the field of optical metamaterials has advanced, I think this question can be revisited.
The most familiar mirror relies on ...
- 6,273
0
votes
0
answers
215
views
Calculation of Phase Delay of a Curved Planar Dielectric Waveguide (i.e., bend)
I am working on a very phase sensitive planar dielectric waveguide device and I need to calculate the phase delay induced by a bend of some radius, $r$ and of $\phi$ radians for a give planar ...
- 331
6
votes
1
answer
293
views
Why is $\textbf{D}$ the response to $\textbf{E}$?
In the text Wooten, equation 2.69 shows $\textbf{D}$ being the response to $\textbf{E}$ with $\epsilon$ as the response function:
$$
\textbf{D}(\textbf{r},t) = \int d\textbf{r}^{\prime} \int dt^{\...
- 87
4
votes
2
answers
485
views
Are all fluorophores dipoles?
Lately I'm reading about surface enhanced fluorescence. In many articles I can see that fluorophores are called "dipoles". Is it because that they can be modelled by a vibrating electric dipole? Or ...
- 3,034