Negative refraction and imaging beyond the diffraction limit by a two-dimensional left-handed metamaterial

We report our experimental results on two-dimensional left-handed metamaterials (LHM) exhibiting negative refraction and subwavelength imaging. Transmission and reflection spectra of LHM are studied and a left-handed transmission band is observed at the frequencies where both dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability are negative. Impedance matching is verified both with the experiments and simulations. The two-dimensional LHM structure is verified to have a negative refractive index. We employed three different methods to observe negative refraction; refraction through prism-shaped LHM, beam shifting method, and phase shift experiments. We further demonstrated subwavelength imaging and resolution using LHM superlenses. The effect of thickness on the resolving power is investigated experimentally.     

Simulations of ferrite-dielectric-wire composite negative index materials

We perform extensive finite difference time domain simulations of ferrite based negative index of refraction composites. A wire grid is employed to provide negative permittivity. The ferrite and wire grid interact to provide both negative and positive index of refraction transmission peaks in the vicinity of the ferrite resonance. Notwithstanding the extreme anisotropy in the index of refraction of the composite, negative refraction is seen at the composite air interface allowing the construction of a focusing concave lens with a magnetically tunable focal length.     

Possible negative refraction in two dimensional ferromagnetic wire lattice

In this paper, we present theoretical and experimental results for the indication of negative refraction in ferromagnetic metallic wire lattice. We have studied microwave transmission through a two dimensional wire lattice made of ferromagnetic metallic wires under the applied static magnetic field. We have found that, the microwave transmission were significantly changed at ferromagnetic resonance frequency region. Thus the magnetic permeability can be tuned by external dc magnetic field. Since the dielectric permittivity of metallic wire lattice is negative and can take a value close to unity then the crystal exhibits negative index of refraction at microwave region under the external magnetic field.     

Experimental verification of negative refraction in a double cross metamaterial

We report on microwave experiments with a metamaterial composed of pairs of metallic crosses. The transmission properties of the structure show a left-handed transmission band at frequencies around 10.2 GHz. The validity of the negative effective index of refraction is verified by a Snell’s law refraction experiment performed on a wedge-shaped sample of the metamaterial. A second measurement of a similar wedge made from blank FR4 boards is done for reference. The results of the measurements show positive refraction over the whole measured frequency band for the FR4 wedge as well as the refraction of the incident radiation to negative angles within the designated left-handed frequency band for the metamaterial sample.     

波状结构二维光子晶体负折射现象的研究

结合波状结构二维(2D)光子晶体(PC)与入射介质两者的等频面结构分析了PC内部的负折射现象，采用时域有限差分(FDTD)方法模拟了高斯光束在波状结构2DPC内的负折射，分别得到了折射角/入射角以及折射角/入射波长之间的关系曲线，当入射角为45°，入射波段在1485—1530nm区域时，波状结构2DPC的负折射角与入射波长近似呈线性变化关系，并带有明显的PC超棱镜效应，采用端面投影方法对波状结构2DPC的入射端面和出射端面进行处理，改善了负折射时的透过率. 关键词： 光子晶体 负折射 等频面     

High numerical aperture and low-loss negative refraction based on the fishnet rich anisotropy

In this paper we report both numerical and experimentally high numerical aperture on a mesostructure based on fishnet-like building blocks. Under the indefinite media framework, we are able to identify a negative refraction never cutoff band (3rd band of the extraordinary transmission metamaterial) with low-losses at millimeter-waves. We relate negative refraction with the diffraction modes of the periodic structure. The work is another step forward in the new but rapidly evolving subfield of negative refraction metamaterials by anisotropy. The breadth and utility of this approach suggests that metamaterials at their meso-scale may circumvent the problem associated to narrowness and losses exhibited by negative refractive index media at their subwavelength domain, while still being away from the wavelength scale of electromagnetic band-gap.     

周期性层状铁氧体-电介质复合材料中导模模式的有效负折射率

运用等效传输线法研究了周期性层状铁氧体-电介质/金属复合材料导模模式的有效折射率.通过对复合材料导模模式的色散特性和有效折射率的分析和计算，发现负折射率只能出现在TE模式激励下的某一频带内.在负折射率频带内的电磁损耗与复合材料中介电材料的性质密切相关，减小介电损耗可以有效降低复合材料的损耗，但过分小的介电损耗则会导致负折射率的消失. 关键词： 负折射率 导模模式 等效传输线法     

Broadband high-efficiency controllable asymmetric propagation by pentamode acoustic metasurface

We utilise the pentamode metasurface to realise broadband high-efficiency and controllable asymmetric transmission. The designed metasurface can manipulate the acoustic waves, as expected from the generalised Snell's law, and exhibits unique characteristics such as extraordinary broadband acoustic control, apparent negative refraction, and conversion from the propagating wave to surface mode. The asymmetric transmission features of positive refraction for the forward incidence (FI) and negative refraction for the reverse incidence (RI) can be realised within the range of 2600 Hz to 5600 Hz by controlling the incident angle from 0° to 35° with the transmission efficiency higher than 85.4% for the FI and RI. In addition, by further adjusting the angle of incidence in the range of 25° to 90°, asymmetric transmission characteristics can be expressed as surface wave transmission for the FI and transmitted wave transmission for the RI within the same frequency ranges.     

Negative refraction in two-dimensional photonic crystals

We present some of our recent results for negative refraction in photonic crystals. The concept of negative refraction in photonic crystals is firstly introduced. Then, the propagation of electromagnetic waves in photonic crystals is systematically studied. By the layer Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker method, the coupling efficiency between external plane waves and the Bloch waves in photonic crystals is investigated. It is found that the coupling coefficient is highly angular dependent even for an interface between air with n=1 and a photonic crystal with effective index n_eff=-1. It is also shown that, for point imaging by a photonic crystal slab, owing to the negative refraction, the influence of the surface termination on the transmission and the imaging quality is significant. Finally, we present results experimentally demonstrating negative refraction in a two-dimensional photonic crystal at optical communication wavelengths. PACS 42.70.Qs; 41.85.Ct; 42.30.Va     

热Fock态下量子效应对介观左手传输线负折射系数的影响

基于热场动力学理论研究了热Fock态下量子效应对介观左手传输线微波段负折射系数的影响.结果表明:负折射系数随电流涨落的增加表现出线性递增的特点,而随温度的升高、频率的增大表现出锐减特性;负折射系数的变化幅度受光子数调控.该结论可对基于左手传输线开发的微波器件的微型化、集成化研究提供参考.     

Phase-shift, refraction and focusing based on the metamaterial technologies

We address the problem of positive phase-shifting, negative refraction and focusing via a flat lens on the basis of the metamaterial technologies. With this aim, three examples are considered which differ by the technology employed and the operating frequency. The first one concerns negative-zero-positive refraction by using a prism-shaped electromagnetic metamaterial which consists of omega-type inclusion arrays operating at microwaves. The experimental verification was done in this case by angle-resolved transmission measurements. Second, we report on the phase-shift properties of a negative index transmission line which operates at Terahertz frequencies. In order to experimentally demonstrate the left-handed character of the propagation along the line, resulting in a phase advance, we used time domain experiments. At last, focusing by double refraction in a flat negative index lens was demonstrated by the theoretical and experimental mapping of the intensity of the electric field. Such a mapping of the E-field was carried out at near infrared (1.5 μm) by analysis in the time domain and scanning by near field optical microscopy. To cite this article: D. Lippens, C. R. Physique 10 (2009).     

高斯光束在单轴挛晶界面上的反射与折射

给出了高斯光束入射到挛晶结构的电磁场分布,解出了反射系数和透射系数。根据晶体的色散关系解出了入射角、反射角和折射角关于晶体参量及波矢的方程,并根据角度方程给出了在一定参量下反射角和折射角关于入射角变化的关系图,以图示的方法显示了光束在界面处的异常性质。根据角度关系和反射、透射系数分析了异常光束在界面处能够出现二性折射、负反射、全透射和全反射等光束的奇特性质;分析了出现这些奇特性质对晶体参量和入射角所要求的条件。根据时间平均的能流密度公式,用数值模拟的方法给出了二性折射、全透射和全反射在特定参量下的高斯光束在挛晶内的能流密度分布图及当发生全反射时不同宽度光束在界面处关于入射角的古斯-亨兴(Goos-Hanchen)位移。     

A planar metamaterial: Polarization independent fishnet structure

We numerically and experimentally investigate a planar metamaterial that is composed of connected cut-wire pairs and continuous wires operating at 21 GHz. The characterization was performed by using the effective medium theory. The existence of negative refraction is concluded from the transmission data of four structures: cut-wire pairs, shorted cut-wire pairs, composite metamaterial, and shorted composite metamaterial.     

惠更斯作图法分析双折射中e光的反常现象

在单轴晶体双折射中,e光会发生一些反常的折射现象如负折射、e光离散角、全反射现象等.与文献中普遍所采用的基于平面光波在晶体中传播的电磁理论特性求解的过程不同,本文则以更为直观的惠更斯作图法为出发点,利用几何求解,得出负反射临界角、e光离散角、全反射临界角,并加以说明和讨论.     

Amphoteric-like refraction in a two-dimensional photonic crystal

High-index contrast photonic crystals possess an intricate photonic band structure that is responsible for surprising phenomena as the surperprism effect, self-collimation, power splitting or negative refraction. Recently, it was reported that at the interface between an isotropic medium and a uniaxial crystal (or between two uniaxial crystals) a phenomenon known as amphoteric refraction, that is, positive as well as negative refraction, can take place. By means of a equifrequency contours analysis and finite-difference time-domain simulations, we show that a two dimensional photonic crystal can also present amphoteric refraction by properly choosing the lattice orientation and the termination. However, total transmission is difficult to achieve because a Bloch mode is excited inside the photonic crystal and the coupling efficiency from this mode to an external plane wave is lower than one.     

Optical properties of antiferromagnetic/ion-crystal superlattices

Transmission, refraction and absorption properties of an antiferromagnetic/ion-crystal superlattice are investigated. The transmission spectra based on FeF₂/TlBr superlattices reveal that there exist two intriguing guided modes in a wide stop band. Additionally, FeF₂/TlBr superlattices possess either the negative refraction or the quasi left-handedness, or even simultaneously hold them at certain frequencies of two guided modes, which require both negative magnetic permeability of antiferromagnetic layers and negative permittivity of ion-crystal layers. Frequency regimes of the guided modes will be dependent on the magnitude of the external magnetic field. Therefore, handedness and refraction properties of the system can be manipulated by modifying the external magnetic field. Absorption spectra exhibit that absorption corresponding to guided modes is noticeable.     

Frequency bands of negative refraction in finite one-dimensional photonic crystals

We have discussed theoretically the negative refraction in finite one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) composed of alternative layers with high index contrast. The frequency bands of negative refraction are obtained with the help of the photonic band structure, the group velocity and the power transmittance, which are all obtained in analytical expression. There shows negative transverse position shift at the endface when negative refraction occurs, which is analysed in detail.     

含负折射率材料的一维光子晶体的光学传输特性

采用光学传输矩阵方法,模拟研究了由正折射率材料和负折射率材料交替组成的一维光子晶体的光学传输特性.计算了这种含负折射率材料的一维光子晶体的透射谱和色散关系.结果表明,在正入射时,含负折射率材料的光子晶体的带隙要比传统的光子晶体要大得多,并具有狭窄的透射带,从光学薄膜理论的色散关系出发解释了形成上述现象的原因.讨论了在不同的偏振模式下,光以中心波长入射时,反射率随着入射角度的变化关系.发现含负折射率材料的一维光子晶体具有更好的角度特性,可以用来实现对中心波长的全方位反射.     

Negative refraction based on purely imaginary metamaterials

By introducing a new mechanism based on purely imaginary metamaterials (PIMs), we reveal that bidirectional negative refraction and planar focusing can be obtained using a pair of PIM slabs, overcoming the unidirectional limit in parity-time (PT)-symmetric systems. Compared with PT-symmetric systems, which require two different types of materials, the proposed negative refraction can be realized using two identical media. In addition, asymmetric excitation with bidirectional total transmission is observed in our PIM system. Therefore, a new way to realize negative refraction with properties that are unavailable in PT-symmetric systems is presented.