ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at some of the possibilities that a linear stratified medium can offer. It discusses some prototypes of two typical quantum effects, namely, the Wigner delay and the Hartman effect, in the context of a layered medium. The delay or the Wigner phase time was calculated as the frequency derivative of the phase of the transmission coefficient. The chapter deals with the nonlinear optical applications of a stratified medium especially in geometries supporting the guided and surface modes. It demonstrates the property of engineered stratified media for an application in the coating industry. The chapter also deals with a new trend, namely, how to generate a dielectric function profile that will be reflectionless for a wide range of angles and wavelengths. It deals with the application of lossy stratified media. The chapter presents the recent developments on perfect absorption charting out the route from CC to antilasers.
