  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 band structure
calculations and allows treatment of complex media consisting of particles that
interact strongly. We also develop a simple Maxwell-Garnett type approach for
studying this system. In comparing the results of both mean field theories, we
demonstrate that the inclusion of the full electromagnetic coupling between the
nanotubes, as our numerical scheme does, is necessary for a complete
explanation of the experimental data.
