Planewave Response of a Simple Lorentz-Nonreciprocal Medium with Magnetoelectric Gyrotropy

Abstract: The simple Lorentz-nonreciprocal medium described by the constitutive relations ${\bf D}=\epsilon_o\epsilon_r{\bf E]-{\bf\Gamma}\times{\bf H}$ and ${\bf B}=\mu_o\mu_r{\bf H]-{\bf\Gamma}\times{\bf E}$ is inspired by a specific spacetime metric, $\bf\Gamma$ being the magnetoelectric-gyrotopy vector. Field representations in this medium can be obtained from those for the isotropic dielectric-magnetic medium. When a plane wave is incident on a half space occupied by the Lorentz-nonreciprocal medium with magnetoelectric gyrotopy, theory shows that the transverse component of the magnetoelectric-gyrotopy vector is responsible for a rotation about the normal axis; furthermore, left/right reflection asymmetry is exhibited. Additionally, left/right transmission asymmetry is exhibited by a planar slab composed of the Lorentz-nonreciprocal medium with magnetoelectric gyrotopy. The left/right asymmetries are of interest for one-way devices.