Electromagnetic waves with negative phase velocity in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime

Abstract

The propagation of electromagnetic plane waves with negative phase velocity (NPV) is considered in Schwarzschild-(anti-)de Sitter spacetime. It is demonstrated that NPV propagation occurs in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime at lower values of the cosmological constant than is the case for de Sitter spacetime. Furthermore, we report that neither is NPV propagation observed in Schwarzschild-anti-de Sitter spacetime, nor is it possible outside the event horizon of a Schwarzschild blackhole.