Abstract
We resolve the existing controversy concerning the selection of the sign of the normal-to-the-interface component of the wave vector of an electromagnetic wave in an active (gain) medium. Our method exploits the fact that no ambiguity exists in the case of a film of the active medium, since its coefficient of reflectance is invariant under the inversion of the sign of . Then we show that the limit of the infinite film thickness determines a unique and physically consistent choice of the wave vector and the refractive index. Important practical implications of the theory are identified and discussed.
© 2007 Optical Society of America
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V. U. Nazarov and Y.-C. Chang, "Resolving the wave-vector and the refractive index from the coefficient of reflectance: erratum," Opt. Lett. 32, 3345-3345 (2007)https://opg.optica.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-32-22-3345
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