Fig. 7: The x and y components of the transmitted electric field form a Lissajous figure, which originates from the beating between the frequency of the input wave ω = 1 and that of the screw Ω. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: The x and y components of the transmitted electric field form a Lissajous figure, which originates from the beating between the frequency of the input wave ω = 1 and that of the screw Ω.

From: An Archimedes' screw for light

Fig. 7: The x and y components of the transmitted electric field form a Lissajous figure, which originates from the beating between the frequency of the input wave ω = 1 and that of the screw Ω.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

The commensurability ratio between the two determines the number of lobes in the figure. For RHP input (a-b) the screw is able to amplify the waves as they propagate through a thickness d. By contrast, a LHP input wave (c-d) is not amplified, but additional beating results from the additional, distinct real eigenvalue.

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