Fundamental limit to the use of effective medium theories in optics

Cross, Graham Hugh

doi:10.1364/ol.38.003057

Fundamental limit to the use of effective medium theories in optics

Cross, Graham Hugh

Authors

Graham Hugh Cross

Abstract

The effective medium refractive index of a surface-bound submonolayer of polystyrene nanospheres in water is found to be ill-defined below a rather specific sphere occupied area limit. The submonolayer takes on a recognizable thickness and refractive index only when the average center separation between spheres is at or below the inverse of the wavenumber. An anticipated limit to the Maxwell Garnett theory is therefore confirmed. It is proposed that this reveals a fundamental property of light scattering that is not of the Huygens spherical secondary wave type.

Citation

Cross, G. H. (2013). Fundamental limit to the use of effective medium theories in optics. Optics Letters, 38(16), 3057-3060. https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.38.003057

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Aug 1, 2013
Deposit Date	Aug 7, 2013
Publicly Available Date	Aug 15, 2013
Journal	Optics Letters
Print ISSN	0146-9592
Electronic ISSN	1539-4794
Publisher	Optica
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	38
Issue	16
Pages	3057-3060
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.38.003057

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Copyright Statement
© 2013 The Optical Society. This paper was published in Optics letters and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OL.38.003057. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.