Investigation of the chiral origins of electromagnetic activity.
Electromagnetic activity of a single, subwavelength helix is explored under transverse illumination with terahertz electromagnetic pulses. By measuring the phase accrual difference between right- and left-circularly polarized components of the pulse transmitted through a series of identically shaped helices, where sections of each helix have been systematically removed, a linear relationship is discovered between the electromagnetic activity of a helix and its thickness in the propagation direction of the electromagnetic wave. A single helix is thus shown to possess intrinsic electromagnetic activity, describable by an effective circular birefringence.
Chau
Kenneth J
KJ
School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. kenneth.chau@ubc.ca