Theory of chiral multilayers

We investigate reflection from and transmission through chiral multilayers with discrete and continuous variations in material characteristics. Both boundary-value and initial-value approaches are used. The S-parameter matrix and associated copolarized and cross-polarized reflection and transmission coefficients are derived from the chiral constitutive relations, Maxwell’s equations, and boundary conditions. A generalized matrix Riccati equation is found for the reflection and transmission coefficients of arbitrary chiral multilayers by using an initial-value approach and Ambarzumian’s principle of invariant embedding. All results are exact and applicable to both normal and oblique incidence. Special emphasis is given to the physical principles involved, to special cases, and to salient features.