The wave flow effect on a plane boundary between vacuum and an optical medium with a quasi-zero refractive index

Abstract

A boundary problem in which a plane electromagnetic wave is reflected and refracted at a plane boundary of a semi-infinite optical medium with a quasi-zero refractive index has been solved. Such a medium has a random refractive index taking values in an interval from zero to some finite value less than unity. It means that the concept of a sharp interface between two media loses its meaning, the boundary of the medium becomes inhomogeneous, and laws of reflection and refraction of light become non-Fresnelian. Formulas for non-Fresnelian amplitudes of reflection and refraction have been derived. It is shown that a surface wave arises near the boundary of a medium with a quasi-zero refractive index. The wave propagates both on the inside and outside of the boundary.