Photonic band-gap effects and magnetic activity in dielectric composites

We develop an effective medium description of a two-dimensional photonic band-gap medium composed of dielectric cylinders of large dielectric constant. Using the transfer matrix method we have calculated reflection coefficients for a slab of the composite and plane-wave incidence, as well as the (complex) wavevector for the infinite system. From these quantities we derive an effective permittivity and permeability for the composite. In the case of p-polarized incidence the composite displays a negative magnetic permeability at microwave frequencies due to single-scatterer resonances in the medium. (author)