3,204 research outputs found
Causality-based criteria for a negative refractive index must be used with care
Using the principle of causality as expressed in the Kramers-Kronig
relations, we derive a generalized criterion for a negative refractive index
that admits imperfect transparency at an observation frequency . It
also allows us to relate the global properties of the loss (i.e. its frequency
response) to its local behaviour at . However, causality-based criteria
rely the on the group velocity, not the Poynting vector. Since the two are not
equivalent, we provide some simple examples to compare the two criteria.Comment: slightly longer version of published PR
The Effect of Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement Vibration on the Bone-Cement Interface
Low frequency vibration of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement reduces the viscosity of the cement by shear thinning. The effect of this low frequency vibration on the bone-cement interface was studied using microfocal radiography (MFR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Effects were studied in-vitro and in-vivo. In-vitro, samples of Palacos low viscosity PMMA were placed on blocks of Kiel bone and vibrated. MFR and SEM demonstrated an improvement in the appearance of the bone-cement interface. In-vivo, PMMA was injected into the upper tibia of the dog. An assessment of the effect of high and low pressure injection, and the effect of added low frequency vibration of the cement was made. The effect on cement penetration was studied using MFR and SEM. It was found that vibration produced an improved bone-cement interface compared to low pressure injection, and an interface comparable to that obtained with high pressure injection
Counterposition and negative phase velocity in uniformly moving dissipative materials
The Lorentz transformations of electric and magnetic fields were implemented
to study (i) the refraction of linearly polarized plane waves into a half-space
occupied by a uniformly moving material, and (ii) the traversal of linearly
polarized Gaussian beams through a uniformly moving slab. Motion was taken to
occur tangentially to the interface(s) and in the plane of incidence. The
moving materials were assumed to be isotropic, homogeneous, dissipative
dielectric materials from the perspective of a co-moving observer. Two
different moving materials were considered: from the perspective of a co-moving
observer, material A supports planewave propagation with only positive phase
velocity, whereas material B supports planewave propagation with both positive
and negative phase velocity, depending on the polarization state. For both
materials A and B, the sense of the phase velocity and whether or not
counterposition occurred, as perceived by a nonco-moving observer, could be
altered by varying the observer's velocity. Furthermore, the lateral position
of a beam upon propagating through a uniformly moving slab made of material A,
as perceived by a nonco-moving observer, could be controlled by varying the
observer's velocity. In particular, at certain velocities, the transmitted beam
emerged from the slab laterally displaced in the direction opposite to the
direction of incident beam. The transmittances of a uniformly moving slab made
of material B were very small and the energy density of the transmitted beam
was largely concentrated in the direction normal to the slab, regardless of the
observer's velocity
H3+ in Diffuse Interstellar Clouds: a Tracer for the Cosmic-Ray Ionization Rate
Using high resolution infrared spectroscopy we have surveyed twenty
sightlines for H3+ absorption. H3+ is detected in eight diffuse cloud
sightlines with column densities varying from 0.6x10^14 cm^-2 to 3.9x10^14
cm^-2. This brings to fourteen the total number of diffuse cloud sightlines
where H3+ has been detected. These detections are mostly along sightlines
concentrated in the Galactic plane, but well dispersed in Galactic longitude.
The results imply that abundant H3+ is common in the diffuse interstellar
medium. Because of the simple chemistry associated with H3+ production and
destruction, these column density measurements can be used in concert with
various other data to infer the primary cosmic-ray ionization rate, zeta_p.
Values range from 0.5x10^-16 s^-1 to 3x10^-16 s^-1 with an average of 2x10^-16
s^-1. Where H3+ is not detected the upper limits on the ionization rate are
consistent with this range. The average value of zeta_p is about an order of
magnitude larger than both the canonical rate and rates previously reported by
other groups using measurements of OH and HD. The discrepancy is most likely
due to inaccurate measurements of rate constants and the omission of effects
which were unknown when those studies were performed. We believe that the
observed column density of H3+ is the most direct tracer for the cosmic-ray
ionization rate due to its simple chemistry. Recent models of diffuse cloud
chemistry require cosmic-ray ionization rates on the order of 10^-16 s^-1 to
reproduce observed abundances of various atomic and molecular species, in rough
accord with our observational findings.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 35 pages, 5 figures, 5 table
General Relativity in Electrical Engineering
In electrical engineering metamaterials have been developed that offer
unprecedented control over electromagnetic fields. Here we show that general
relativity lends the theoretical tools for designing devices made of such
versatile materials. Given a desired device function, the theory describes the
electromagnetic properties that turn this function into fact. We consider media
that facilitate space-time transformations and include negative refraction. Our
theory unifies the concepts operating behind the scenes of perfect invisibility
devices, perfect lenses, the optical Aharonov-Bohm effect and electromagnetic
analogs of the event horizon, and may lead to further applications
Observations of H3+ in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium
Surprisingly large column densities of H3+ have been detected using infrared
absorption spectroscopy in seven diffuse cloud sightlines (Cygnus OB2 12,
Cygnus OB2 5, HD 183143, HD 20041, WR 104, WR 118, and WR 121), demonstrating
that H3+ is ubiquitous in the diffuse interstellar medium. Using the standard
model of diffuse cloud chemistry, our H3+ column densities imply unreasonably
long path lengths (~1 kpc) and low densities (~3 cm^-3). Complimentary
millimeter-wave, infrared, and visible observations of related species suggest
that the chemical model is incorrect and that the number density of H3+ must be
increased by one to two orders of magnitude. Possible solutions include a
reduced electron fraction, an enhanced rate of H2 ionization, and/or a smaller
value of the H3+ dissociative recombination rate constant than implied by
laboratory experiments.Comment: To be published in Astrophysical Journal, March 200
General Relativistic Contributions in Transformation Optics
One potentially realistic specification for devices designed with
transformation optics is that they operate with high precision in curved
space-time, such as Earth orbit. This raises the question of what, if any, role
does space-time curvature play in determining transformation media?
Transformation optics has been based on a three-vector representation of
Maxwell's equations in flat Minkowski space-time. I discuss a completely
covariant, manifestly four-dimensional approach that enables transformations in
arbitrary space-times, and demonstrate this approach for stable circular orbits
in the spherically symmetric Schwarzschild geometry. Finally, I estimate the
magnitude of curvature induced contributions to satellite-borne transformation
media in Earth orbit and comment on the level of precision required for
metamaterial fabrication before such contributions become important.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. Latest version has expanded analysis,
corresponds to published versio
Experimental Verification of 3D Plasmonic Cloaking in Free-Space
We report the experimental verification of metamaterial cloaking for a 3D
object in free space. We apply the plasmonic cloaking technique, based on
scattering cancellation, to suppress microwave scattering from a finite-length
dielectric cylinder. We verify that scattering suppression is obtained all
around the object in the near- and far-field and for different incidence
angles, validating our measurements with analytical results and full-wave
simulations. Our near-field and far-field measurements confirm that realistic
and robust plasmonic metamaterial cloaks may be realized for elongated 3D
objects with moderate transverse cross-section at microwave frequencies.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, published in NJ
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