Generalization of a scattering theorem for plane-stratified gyrotropic media

Abstract

A previously derived eigenmode scattering theorem for plane-stratified gyrotropic media established that the scattering matricesS andS′, defined, respectively, in terms of a given and a conjugate set of eigenmode amplitudes, are mutually transposed, i.e.$S = \tilde S'$, the theorem being valid specifically for the incoming and outgoing eigenmodes ofgyrotropic bounding media. In this paper the theorem is extended to include linearly and circularly polarized base-modes in theisotropic media which may bound the multilayered, gyrotropic structure. Transformation of the eigenmode scattering matrix leads to a generalization of the scattering theorem to include base modes which are not necessarily eigenmodes of the medium. In the important special case in which the ambient magnetic field is parallel to the plane of the stratification, the scattering matrix is shown to have a special symmetry whose form depends on the base modes chosen (eigenmodes, linear modes or circular modes).