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Maxwell2D: Refractive index inhomogeneities (1 wavelength)

Dielectric constant distribution

When the fluctuations in refractive index are not on the scale of half the wavelength (such as the example here where they are on the scale of the wavelength itself) then destructive interference means that no significant backscatter is detected.

Electric field animation

This is an animation of the component of the electric field out of the plane of the page.

Average Poynting vector

The direction in which energy is travelling at any instant is proportional to the cross product of the electric and magnetic fields, known as the Poynting vector. The arrows show the direction of the Poynting vector averaged over the simulation, while the colours show its strength.