Extreme control of light in metamaterials: Complete and loss-free stopping of light

We present an overview of recent advances within the field of slow- and stopped-light in metamaterial and plasmonic waveguides. We start by elucidating the mechanisms by which these configurations can enable complete stopping of light. Decoherence mechanisms may destroy the zero-group-velocity condition for real-frequency/complex-wavevector modes, but we show that metamaterial and nanoplasmonic waveguides also support complex-frequency/real-wavevector modes that uphold the light-stopping condition. A further point of focus is how, by using gain, dissipative losses can be overcome in the slow- and stopped-light regimes. To this end, on the basis of full-wave finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations and analytic transfer-matrix calculations, we show that the incorporation of thin layers made of an active medium, placed adjacently to the core layer of a negative-refractive-index waveguide, can fully remove dissipative losses – in a slow- or stopped-light regime where the effective index of the guided lightwave remains negative.     

Self-collimation of light in disordered left-handed metamaterials

Transmission of light through a left-handed slab is studied theoretically. The slab consists of randomly distributed electric and magnetic scatterers. In a practical realization these could be wire and split ring resonators forming a disordered metamaterial. Enhanced transmission close to the middle of the slab is demonstrated. It is explained canalization of source image through self-collimated channels. Existence of self-collimated channels localized on the surface of the slab is demonstrated and a possibility of sub-wavelength imaging by such a system is discussed.     

Surface-plasmon-assisted resonant tunneling of light through a periodically corrugated thin metal film

We present experimental results and a numerical model confirming that surface plasmons can resonantly enhance light transmission through a corrugated metal film. A new interpretation in terms of plasmon-assisted light tunneling is given to recent experiments on light penetration through periodic subwavelength holes in a thin metal film. We designed a narrow-band filter suitable for applications in optical communication by optimizing the film and the grating parameters.     

Acoustic tunneling through artificial structures: From phononic crystals to acoustic metamaterials

We present a comparative study on the acoustic tunneling through artificial periodical composites, from phononic crystals to acoustic metamaterials. We find that the features of the acoustic tunneling are closely related with the origins of band gaps. In particular, the band gap associated with the negative effective material parameter in the metamaterial results in a better analog of the tunneling effect to the quantum system.     

A new broadening mechanism in tunneling systems

A broadening mechanism which arises through the phonon dressing factor is presented. Some of the experimental results which are more consistent with this type of broadening are mentioned. Finally, the extension to other types of tunneling systems, such as glasses, is discussed briefly.     

含特异材料光子晶体隧穿模的偏振特性

构造了由普通材料A(SiO₂)和电单负材料B组成的(AB)^N(BA)^N型一维光子晶体.数值计算表明原禁带的1907.3 nm处出现了一个十分尖锐的隧穿模. 入射角增加,该隧穿模的透射率和半峰全宽度均保持不变,但位置发生蓝移, 入射角在15°-65°的区间内,移动率的绝对值 |dλ/dθ| 较大.当B介质的磁导率μ_B 从5增加到10时,只是隧穿模的位置发生了红移. 介质的几何厚度增加时,隧穿模的透射率不变,但其位置红移明显,半峰全宽略有增加.     

Theory of light amplification in active fishnet metamaterials

We establish a theory that traces light amplification in an active double-fishnet metamaterial back to its microscopic origins. Based on ab initio calculations of the light and plasmon fields we extract energy rates and conversion efficiencies associated with gain and loss channels directly from Poynting's theorem. We find that for the negative refractive index mode both radiative loss and gain outweigh resistive loss by more than a factor of 2, opening a broad window of steady-state amplification (free of instabilities) accessible even when a gain reduction close to the metal is taken into account.     

可见光波段超材料的平面聚焦效应

基于超材料双鱼网结构物理模型,设计了树枝状结构+树枝状结构、树枝状结构+银膜和树枝状结构+氧化铟锡玻璃三种可见光波段超材料复合结构.采用双模板辅助化学电沉积方法,制备出金属银树枝状结构阵列和银膜,分别实现了这三种复合结构.透射和反射实验表明,三种复合结构具有类似的行为.比较发现,树枝状结构+氧化铟锡玻璃复合结构具有损耗低和平面聚焦效应明显的优点.通过调节实验条件,分别制备出能够实现平面聚焦的红绿蓝三种可见光波段超材料. 关键词： 超材料 银树枝状结构 可见光 平面聚焦     

Manipulate light polarizations with metamaterials: From microwave to visible

Polarization is an important characteristic of electromagnetic (EM) waves, and efficient manipulations over EM wave polarizations are always desirable in practical applications. Here, we review the recent efforts in controlling light polarizations with metamaterials, at frequencies ranged from microwave to visible. We first presented a 4 × 4 version transfer matrix method (TMM) to study the scatterings by an anisotropic metamaterial of EM waves with arbitrary propagating directions and polarizations. With the 4 × 4 TMM, we discovered several amazing polarization manipulation phenomena based on the reflection geometry and proposed corresponding model metamaterial systems to realize such effects. Metamaterial samples were fabricated with the help of finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations, and experiments were performed to successfully realize these ideas at both microwave and visible frequencies. Efforts in employing metamaterials to manipulate light polarizations based on the transmission geometry are also reviewed.     

Experiment study of tunneling phenomenon occurring in the photonic heterostructure containing single-negative metamaterials

In this paper, the tunneling phenomenon occurring in the photonic heterostructure consisting of single-negative (SNG) metamaterials is experimentally studied. First, the SNG metamaterials are fabricated using coplanar waveguide with lumped-element series capacitors and shunt inductors loading. Then, the tunneling phenomenon occurring in the photonic heterostructure containing SNG media is experimentally demonstrated. Moreover, the insensitivity of the tunneling frequency to the breakdown of periodicity of phonotic crystals was also illustrated.     

Reflectionless tunneling of light in gradient optics

We analyze the optical (or microwave) tunneling properties of electromagnetic waves passing through thin films presenting a specific index profile that provides a cutoff frequency when the films are used below this frequency. We show that, contrary to the usual case of a square index profile, where tunneling is accompanied by a strong attenuation of the wave due to reflection, such films present the possibility of reflectionless tunneling, where the incoming intensity is totally transmitted.     

Quantum tunneling of light particles in metals

The motion of a particle in a metallic crystal is studied for low temperatures where transitions between adjacent interstitial sites are caused by quantum tunneling. The influence of electrons and phonons on the hopping rate is taken into account by means of a functional integral method. The electronic influence may effectively be described by Ohmic damping which dominates the low temperature behavior of the defect motion. When subsequent tunneling transitions are statistically independent, the diffusion constant is found to obey a power law, D∼T^2K−1, where K depends on the defect-electron interaction. This power law is limited at low temperatures by the effects of phonon excitations. Near the transition between electron and phonon dominated behavior the diffusion constant has a minimum where the precise temperature dependence of the rate depends not only on phonon spectra but also on the processes limiting phonon lifetimes.     

Spin Hall effect of a light beam in anisotropic metamaterials

<正>We theoretically investigate a switchable spin Hall effect of light(SHEL) in reflection for three specific dispersion relations at an air-anisotropic metamaterial interface.The displacements of horizontal and vertical polarization components vary with the incident angle at different dispersion relations.The transverse displacements can be obtained with the relevant metamaterial whose refractive index can be arbitrarily tailed.The results of the SHEL in the metarnaterial provide a new way for manipulating the transverse displacements of a specific polarization component.     

Optical properties of the two-port resonant tunneling filters in two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs

We have designed and fabricated two types of two-port resonant tunneling filters with a triangular air-hole lattice in two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs.In order to improve the filtering efficiency,a feedback method is introduced by closing the waveguide.It is found that the relative position between the closed waveguide boundary and the resonator has an important impact on the dropping efficiency.Based on our analyses,two different types of filters are designed.The transmission spectra and scattering-light far-field patterns are measured,which agree well with theoretical prediction.In addition,the resonant filters are highly sensitive to the size of the resonant cavities,which are useful for practical applications.     

Self-guiding of infrared and visible light in photonic crystal slabs

We experimentally demonstrate diffractionless guidance and efficient routing of light in two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs at infrared and visible wavelengths. Our particular design allows for simultaneous guidance of TE and TM polarized light beams at the same wavelength. Routing performance and possibilities of propagation loss reduction are investigated experimentally. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with three-dimensional simulations.     

Effect of metal permittivity on resonant properties of terahertz metamaterials

We investigate the effect of metal permittivity on resonant transmission of metamaterials by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Our experimental results on double split-ring resonators made from different metals confirm the recent numerical simulations [Phys. Rev. E 65, 036622 (2002)] that metamaterials exhibit permittivity-dependent resonant properties. In the terahertz regime, the measured inductive-capacitive resonance is found to strengthen with a higher ratio of the real to the imaginary parts of metal permittivity, and this remains consistent at various metal thicknesses. Furthermore, we found that metamaterials made even from a generally poor metal become highly resonant owing to a drastic increase in the value of the permittivity at terahertz frequencies.     

Omnidirectional reflectance gaps and resonant tunneling effect in a one-dimensional photonic crystal consisting of two metamaterials

We investigate the properties of electromagnetic wave propagating in a one-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) consisting of two metamaterials with different dispersive model. The reflection gaps of metamaterials multilayer system are independent of the incident angle. Not only TE wave but also TM wave, the omnidirectional reflection gaps exhibit the same behavior with different incident angle for metamaterials as double negative material. We also observed that the frequency regimes of zero-transmission bands are different for TE and TM wave with the same incident angle, when one of metamaterials is the permittivity negative (ε < 0) and the other is the double negative. Correspondingly, we show that the result can be act as an efficient polarization splitter. At last, we discuss the resonant tunneling effect. If the total reflection condition is satisfied, the resonant tunneling effect is enhanced as the incident angle increases, even though the propagation wave is evanescent wave in the single layer medium.     

Zener tunneling of light waves in an optical superlattice

We report on the observation of Zener tunneling of light waves in spectral and time-resolved transmission measurements, performed on an optical superlattice made of porous silicon. The structure was designed to have two photonic minibands, spaced by a narrow frequency gap. A gradient in the refractive index was introduced to create two optical Wannier-Stark ladders and, at a critical value of the optical gradient, tunneling between energy bands was observed in the form of an enhanced transmission peak and a characteristic time dependence of the transmission.