Goos-Hanchen shifts at the interfaces between left- and right-handed media

The Goos-Hanchen shift caused by total internal reflection at the interface between two media is analyzed. For two media of the same handedness the Goos-Hanchen phase shift opposes the phase variation associated with propagation through the incident medium. The Goos-Hanchen lateral shift is in the same direction as the horizontal component of the incident energy flux. Conversely, for two media of opposite handedness the Goos-Hanchen phase shift reinforces the phase variation associated with propagation through the incident medium. The lateral shift is in the opposite direction of the horizontal component of the incident energy flux. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.