Open AccessTheory of light emission from a dipole source embedded in a chiral sculptured thin film
Author(s) -
Tom G. Mackay,
Akhlesh Lakhtakia
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.014689
Subject(s) - circular polarization , optics , dipole , polarization (electrochemistry) , optoelectronics , materials science , physics , chemistry , quantum mechanics , microstrip
Developing a theory based on a spectral Green function for light emission from a point-dipole source embedded in a chiral sculptured thin film (CSTF), we found that the intensity and polarization of the emitted light are strongly influenced by the structural handedness of the CSTF as well as the placement and orientation of the source dipole. The emission patterns across both pupils of the dipole-containing CSTF can be explained in terms of the circular Bragg phenomenon exhibited by CSTFs when illuminated by normally as well as obliquely incident plane waves. The emission characteristics augur well for the future of CSTFs as optical biosensors as well as light emitters with controlled circular polarization and bandwidth.