Electromagnetic propagation in unbounded inhomogeneous chiral media using the coupled mode method.

The coupled mode method (CMM) is a seminumerical method for studying electromagnetic propagation, originally formulated for closed structures. We show how this method can be used for obtaining the propagation constants and electromagnetic field in unbounded isotropic chiral media. We also characterize single and periodic cascade discontinuities made of isotropic chiral slabs by means of the mode matching method combined with the CMM. The results are tested with a robust FDTD technique, modified to model bi-isotropic media and with analytical solutions. In all cases good agreement is found. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 2771–2779, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22863 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]