Plane Waves in Non-Symmetric Monoclinic Media

The propagation of plane waves along the preferential z-axis in non-symmetric monoclinic media is investigated. It is shown, using an eigenanalysis, that the two fundamental polarization states are generally non-orthogonal, although the electric and magnetic field intensities within a given polarization state are orthogonal. It is demonstrated that the two polarization states are orthogonal only if the monoclinic media tensor properties are symmetric. Future work is also discussed, including the analysis of planes waves propagating along a general oblique direction and the electromagnetic characterization of monoclinic media.