Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1859454 | Physics Letters A | 2016 | 6 Pages |
•Time-dependent permittivity combined with antisymmetric magnetoelectric coupling will yield a novel linear birefringence.•Distinct dynamical behaviors of these two birefringent modes are analyzed.•As a new nonlinear optical effect, a scheme utilizing optical Kerr effect in moving media is proposed.
This paper deals with electromagnetic wave propagation in time-dependent media with an antisymmetric magnetoelectric coupling and an isotropic time-dependent permittivity. We identify a new mechanism of linear birefringence, originated from the combined action of the time-dependent permittivity and the antisymmetric magnetoelectric coupling. Permittivity with linear and exponential temporal variations exemplifies the creation and control of these two distinct types of linear birefringent modes. As a novel nonlinear optical effect, a scheme utilizing optical Kerr effect in moving media is proposed for the realization of the predicted birefringence.