Light/matter interactions
Microwave photonics. Optical control of electronic functions

Defining the interactions of an electromagnetic wave

When encountering a material, the electric field E and magnetic field B, which define an electromagnetic wave evolving in time at a pulsation ω and following a wave vector k, will interact with the electromagnetic properties of the medium, such as its permittivity (or index), permeability and conductivity.

During this interaction, the coupling of these fields with matter at different orders will create effects on the polarization of the medium (table 1).

Refractive behavior

In the case of refraction of this wave at a wavelength for which the medium is necessarily transparent (insulating), i.e. for a wide spectral band for dielectric materials, electro- or acousto-optic interactions of various orders modify the index of...