The transfer matrix: A geometrical perspective |
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Authors: | Luis L. Sá nchez-Soto,Juan J. Monzó n,Alberto G. Barriuso,José F. Cariñ ena |
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Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Óptica, Facultad de Física, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain;2. Departamento de Física Teórica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain |
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Abstract: | We present a comprehensive and self-contained discussion of the use of the transfer matrix to study propagation in one-dimensional lossless systems, including a variety of examples, such as superlattices, photonic crystals, and optical resonators. In all these cases, the transfer matrix has the same algebraic properties as the Lorentz group in a (2+1)-dimensional spacetime, as well as the group of unimodular real matrices underlying the structure of the abcd law, which explains many subtle details. We elaborate on the geometrical interpretation of the transfer-matrix action as a mapping on the unit disk and apply a simple trace criterion to classify the systems into three types with very different geometrical and physical properties. This approach is applied to some practical examples and, in particular, an alternative framework to deal with periodic (and quasiperiodic) systems is proposed. |
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Keywords: | Transfer matrix Hyperbolic geometry Periodic systems |
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