Polarization-sensitive propagation in an anisotropic metamaterial with double-sheeted hyperboloid dispersion relation

Abstract

The polarization-sensitive propagation in the anisotropic metamaterial (AMM) with double-sheeted hyperboloid dispersion relation is investigated from a purely wave propagation point of view. We show that TE and TM polarized waves present significantly different characteristics which depend on the polarization. The omnidirectional total reflection and oblique total transmission can occur in the interface associated with the AMM. If appropriate conditions are satisfied, one polarized wave exhibits the total refraction, while the other presents the total reflection. We find that the opposite amphoteric refractions can be realized by rotating the principle axis of AMM, such that one polarized wave performs the negative refraction, while the other undergoes positive refraction. The polarization-sensitive characteristics allow us to construct two types of efficient polarizing beam splitters under certain achievable conditions.