Flexible Approximation Schemes for Wave Refraction in Negative Index Materials

Materials with negative index of refraction are attracting much attention due to their unusual characteristics and potential applications for focusing and guiding of light. Simulation of such materials by the traditional finite difference (FD) methods in the time or frequency domain is inhibited by poor approximation at the interfaces between positive and negative index media. The paper demonstrates the superior accuracy of the recently developed flexible local approximation method as compared with the standard FD analysis.