Electromagnetic properties of viscous charged fluids

Davide Forcella, Jan Zaanen, Davide Valentinis, and Dirk van der Marel
Phys. Rev. B 90, 035143 – Published 30 July 2014

Abstract

We provide a general theoretical framework to describe the electromagnetic properties of viscous charged fluids, consisting, for example, of electrons in certain solids or plasmas. We confirm that finite viscosity leads to multiple modes of evanescent electromagnetic waves at a given frequency, one of which is characterized by a negative index of refraction, as previously discussed in a simplified model by one of the authors. In particular, we explain how optical spectroscopy can be used to probe the viscosity. We concentrate on the impact of this on the coefficients of refraction and reflection at the sample-vacuum interface. Analytical expressions are obtained relating the viscosity parameter to the reflection and transmission coefficients of light. We demonstrate that finite viscosity has the effect to decrease the reflectivity of a metallic surface, while the electromagnetic field penetrates more deeply. While on a phenomenological level there are similarities to the anomalous skin effect, the model presented here requires no particular assumptions regarding the corpuscular nature of the charge liquid. A striking consequence of the branching phenomenon into two degenerate modes is the occurrence in a half-infinite sample of oscillations of the electromagnetic field intensity as a function of distance from the interface.

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  • Received 3 June 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.035143

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Davide Forcella1, Jan Zaanen2, Davide Valentinis3, and Dirk van der Marel3

  • 1Physique Théorique et Mathématique and International Solvay Institutes, Université Libre de Bruxelles, C.P. 231, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
  • 2The Instituut-Lorentz for Theoretical Physics, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
  • 3Département de Physique de la Matière Condensèe, Université de Genève, 24 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 3 — 15 July 2014

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