Visualization of Negative Refraction in Chiral Nihility Media

Chiral nihility media are known to produce a backward wave as one of their two polarizations, yielding negative refraction at the interface of the chiral nihility medium and free space. In this paper, the analysis of chiral nihility effects is illustrated by showing the propagation of a Gaussian beam, both reflected and refracted from an air-chiral interface, and through layered chiral nihility media that are matched to free space. The critical angle for total reflection, and the index-matched total transmission in a matched chiral half-space, are demonstrated. Also demonstrated are the wave splitting, wave widening, and a wave of “standing phase” in matched chiral nihility slabs.