Scattering and chirping at accelerated interfaces

Space-time-varying media with moving interfaces unlock new ways to manipulate electromagnetic waves: however, analytical solutions have been limited mostly to interfaces moving at constant velocity or constant proper acceleration. Here we present exact scattering solutions for an arbitrarily accelerating interface, derived directly in the laboratory frame through a suitable change of variables. We show that acceleration introduces rich effects that do not occur with uniform motion, including transitions between multiple velocity regimes, multiple scattering events, and generalized frequency chirping. We also solve the inverse problem of designing an interface trajectory that produces a desired chirping profile, demonstrating how tailored acceleration can synthesize complex frequency modulations. These results provide a fundamental framework to understand and control wave interactions with accelerated boundaries, opening pathways for advanced applications in space-time signal processing and dynamic pulse shaping.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Physical Review Applied
Published
2025-12-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/wnxx-k9xm
Primary Topic
Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Scattering and chirping at accelerated interfaces

Karl J. Friston
Physical Review Applied
Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
article

Scattering and chirping at accelerated interfaces

Karl J. Friston
article en

Abstract

Space-time-varying media with moving interfaces unlock new ways to manipulate electromagnetic waves: however, analytical solutions have been limited mostly to interfaces moving at constant velocity or constant proper acceleration. Here we present exact scattering solutions for an arbitrarily accelerating interface, derived directly in the laboratory frame through a suitable change of variables. We show that acceleration introduces rich effects that do not occur with uniform motion, including transitions between multiple velocity regimes, multiple scattering events, and generalized frequency chirping. We also solve the inverse problem of designing an interface trajectory that produces a desired chirping profile, demonstrating how tailored acceleration can synthesize complex frequency modulations. These results provide a fundamental framework to understand and control wave interactions with accelerated boundaries, opening pathways for advanced applications in space-time signal processing and dynamic pulse shaping.

Physical Review AppliedVol. 25(1)
KU Leuven (BE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 68%
Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.