Light Propagation in Chiral Media with Large Pitch

Abstract

The peculiarities of light propagation in uniaxial chiral media with large pitch are studied. In this case there are the forbidden zones for extraordinary beams. The existence of the forbidden zones leads to the effective reflection on zones boundaries and to damping of the wave inside the forbidden zone. We analyze the vicinities of the turning points and the transition of an extraordinary wave through the forbidden zone. It is shown that the optical effects for beams propagating near the turning points are equivalent to the tunnelling and reflection above the barrier for the parabolic potential barrier in quantum mechanics.

PACS numbers:

• 42.70.Df
• 42.25.Bs
• 42.15.-i
• 42.25.Fx

Keywords:

• forbidden zones
• helical liquid crystal
• turning points
• wave-guide channel