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Fresnel reflection coefficients in the Fourier domain for a planar surface in uniform motion parallel to its
Stéphane Azar1, Francisco J Rodríguez-Fortuño2, Sebastian Golat1
1Department of Physics and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King's College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS, London, UK.
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The optical reflection coefficient of a medium moving uniformly in the plane spanned by its surface is rigorously calculated using classical electrodynamics and special relativity, and expressed in the Fourier domain, as a function of the incident frequency and wavevector, valid in both the far- and near-field regimes. It is found that cross-polarisation appears as a consequence of the motion, except when it is directed along the plane of incidence. As an example, using a Drude model for the permittivity of the surface at rest, the dispersion relation of its surface modes is calculated. A tilting of the dispersion relation is observed, leading to movement-induced surface plasmon unidirectionality and non-reciprocity.
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