On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:20:40 -0400, jawod wrote:

You know, I've always been puzzled by negative refraction. The basis of
positive refraction is that the speed of EMR (say light) decreases
within a given material. In negative refraction, the speed of light
INCREASES?

I guess as long as it is less than the speed of light in a vacuum, no
laws have been broken?

Hi John,

My first reaction too.

However, when you look at the math, negative refraction is, well,
negative. What you describe (and I initially anticipated) is the
ratio of speed of light and the phase velocity being less than one.
Not the same thing being discussed here.

Another expression for negative refraction is "left-handed."

Anyway, more grist for you to review at:
http://physicsweb.org/articles/world/17/5/3

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC