Conformal mapping and Helmholtz equation
Inspired by [10.1126/science.1126493]. Conformal transformation and Helmholtz equation Consider the Helmholtz equation describing a scalar phasor field $\psi$ in a 2D space filled by a isotropic medium of index $n(\mathbf{r})$. $$ (\nabla^2 + n^2k_0^2)\psi = 0. $$ the phasor field is corresponding to a given light polarization. We can introduce the complex variable $z=x+iy$, and we have the relations $$ \partial_x = \partial_z+\partial_{\bar{z}}, $$ $$ \partial_y = i\left(\partial_z-\partial_{\bar{z}}\right). $$ By substitution, $\nabla^2 = 4\partial_z\partial_{\bar{z}}$. Consider now an analytical function $w(z)$. We have $$ \partial_z\partial_{\bar{z}} = \left|\partial_z w\right|^2 \partial_w\partial_{\bar{w}}. $$ We can map the Helmholtz equation into $$ (4\partial_w\partial_{\bar{w}} + n’^2k_0^2)\psi = 0 $$ where the new index is $n’ = n |\partial_z w|$. Then, we can map again the Helmholtz equation into new variables $u, v$, having $w=u+iv$, obtaining $$ (\partial_u^2+\partial_v^2 + n’^2k_0^2)\psi = 0 $$ therefore mapping the previous electromagnetic problem into a new problem with a transformed index. ...