On the transmittance of metallic superlattices in the optical regime and the true refraction angle
Abstract
Recently, an approach for metallic superlattices based on the finite periodic systems theory was introduced Pereyra2020. Unlike most, if not all, of the published approaches that are valid in the n → ∞ limit, the finite periodic approach is valid for any natural number n and allows one to determine analytical expressions for scattering amplitudes and dispersion relations. It was shown, for frequencies below ωp and large metallic-layer thickness, that under the common assumption that fields inside conductors move along the so-called "true" angle that defines the orientation of the constant-phase planes, anomalous results appear with an apparent parity effect. This issue is addressed here and it is shown that those results are due to the lack of unitarity and the underlying phenomena of absorption and loss of energy. Two compatible approaches are presented here to solve the lack of unitarity and to account for the absorption phenomenon. We show that by keeping the complex angles, the principle of flux conservation is fully satisfied, above and below ωp. This approach, free of assumptions, gives us light to improve the formalism when the real angle assumption is made. We show that by taking into account the induced currents and the requirement of flux conservation, we end up with an improved approach, with new Fresnel and transmission coefficients, fully compatible with those of the complex-angle approach.