A general theory of the light propagation in periodic structures characterized by a uniform rotation of the dielectric tensor about a given axis is presented. Starting from a fundamental approach of Dreher and Meier, which is mostly numerical, an analytical solution of the characteristic equation has been found which can be used to calculate the wave vectors as a function of $\omega$ and of the incidence angle ${\theta }_i$. The electromagnetic wave is described as a superposition of elementary modes having the form of Bloch waves. Each elementary mode is represented by a sum of plane waves elliptically polarized, whose wave vectors are the roots of the characteristic equation. The analysis of the solutions of such an equation allows us to draw a more complete map of the stability and instability regions for light propagation in helical structures than the ones currently available in the literature. The coexistence of two distinct modes, with different polarization states, determines the shape of the stability map. Each mode presents a series of Bragg instabilities. Between the two Bragg instabilities of the same order a further instability exists which is common to both modes and does not satisfy the Bragg conditions. All instability bands, with the exception of only one of the first order, vanish at normal incidence. This occurs for any value of the optical anisotropy and is a peculiarity of perfectly ordered helical structures. The bandwidth increases with ${\theta }_i$, and overlapping may occur. Typical plots of dispersion curves and attenuation constants are reported. Finally, we compute the intensity and the polarization state of the light reflected from a thin film, in order to clarify the controversial point about the structure—doublet or triplet—of the higher-order reflection bands.

• Received 12 August 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.27.3291