EFFECTIVE-MEDIUM THEORY OF THE OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES

We present an effective medium theory in order to analyze the reported optical properties of aligned carbon nanotube films [W.A. de Heer et al., Science 268, 845 (1995)]. This methodology is based on photonic b and structure calculations and allows treatment of complex media consi sting of particles that interact strongly. We also develop a simple Ma xwell-Garnett type approach for studying this system. In comparing the results of both mean field theories, we demonstrate that the inclusio n of the full electromagnetic coupling between the nanotubes, as our n umerical scheme does, is necessary for a complete explanation of the e xperimental data.