Experimental observation of left-handed behavior in an array of standard dielectric resonators

We demonstrate that by utilizing displacement currents in simple dielectric resonators instead of conduction currents in metallic split-ring resonators and by additionally exciting the proper modes, left-handed properties can be observed in an array of high dielectric resonators. Theoretical analysis and experimental measurements show that the modes, as well as the subwavelength resonance, play an important role in the origin of the left-handed properties. The proposed implementation of a left-handed metamaterial, based on a purely dielectric configuration, opens the possibility of realizing media at terahertz frequencies since scaling issues and losses, two major drawbacks of metal-based structures, are avoided.     

Acoustic resonators for far-field control of sound on a subwavelength scale

We prove experimentally that broadband sounds can be controlled and focused at will on a subwavelength scale by using acoustic resonators. We demonstrate our approach in the audible range with soda cans, that is, Helmholtz resonators, and commercial computer speakers. We show that diffraction-limited sound fields convert efficiently into subdiffraction modes in the collection of cans that can be controlled coherently in order to obtain focal spots as thin as 1/25 of a wavelength in air. We establish that subwavelength acoustic pressure spots are responsible for a strong enhancement of the acoustic displacement at focus, which permits us to conclude with a visual experiment exemplifying the interest of our concept for subwavelength sensors and actuators.     

An electrically tunable metasurface integrated with graphene for mid-infrared light modulation

We propose a low-cost plasmonic metasurface integrated with single-layer graphene for dynamic modulation of midinfrared light. The plasmonic metasurface is composed of an array of split magnetic resonators(MRs) where a nano slit is included. Extraordinary optical transmission(EOT) through the deep subwavelength slit is observed by excitation of magnetic plasmons in the split MRs. Furthermore, the introduction of the slit provides strongly enhanced fields around the graphene layer, leading to a large tuning effect on the EOT by changing the Fermi energy of the graphene. The proposed metasurface can be utilized as an optical modulator with a broad modulation width(15 μm) or an optical switch with a high on/off ratio( 100). Meanwhile, the overall thickness of the metasurface is 430 nm, which is tens of times smaller than the operating wavelength. This work may have potential applications in mid-infrared optoelectrical devices and give insights into reconfigurable flat optics and optoelectronics.     

Gain-assisted indented plasmonic waveguide for low-threshold nanolaser applications

A subwavelength plasmonic indented waveguide with an active InGaAsP core is proposed.The characteristics of the gap plasmon mode and gain required for lossless propagation are investigated and analyzed by the finite element method.We numerically calculate the normalized mode areas and percentages of energy confined in InGaAsP and metal for plasmonic nanolaser applications.It is shown that the indentation of the sidewalls has an optimal value for which the lasing threshold gain is minimal.The structure could enable low-threshold subwavelength lasing and applications for optoelectronic integrated circuits.     

Near-field light localization using subwavelength apertures incorporated with metamaterials

We report strong near-field electromagnetic localization by using subwavelength apertures and metamaterials that operate at microwave frequencies. We designed split ring resonators with distinct configurations in order to obtain extraordinary transmission results. Furthermore, we analyzed the field localization and focusing characteristics of the transmitted evanescent waves. The employed metamaterial configurations yielded an improvement on the transmission efficiency on the order of 27 dB and 50 dB for the deep subwavelength apertures. The metamaterial loaded apertures are considered as a total system that offered spot size conversion ratios as high as 7.12 and 9.11 for the corresponding metamaterial configurations. The proposed system is shown to intensify the electric fields of the source located in the near-field. It also narrows down the electromagnetic waves such that a full width at half maximum value of λ/29 is obtained.     

Vertical transport of subwavelength localized surface electromagnetic modes

Transport of subwavelength electromagnetic (EM) energy has been achieved through near‐field coupling of highly confined surface EM modes supported by plasmonic nanoparticles, in a configuration usually on a two‐dimensional (2D) substrate. Vertical transport of similar modes along the third dimension, on the other hand, can bring more flexibility in designs of functional photonic devices, but this phenomenon has not been observed in reality. In this paper, designer (or spoof) surface plasmon resonators (‘plasmonic meta‐atoms’) are stacked in the direction vertical to their individual planes in demonstrating vertical transport of subwavelength localized surface EM modes. The dispersion relation of this vertical transport is determined from coupled‐mode theory and is verified with a near‐field transmission spectrum and field mapping with a microwave near‐field scanning stage. This work extends the near‐field coupled resonator optical waveguide (CROW) theory into the vertical direction, and may find applications in novel three‐dimensional slow‐light structures, filters, and photonic circuits.

     

Focusing microwaves into subwavelength dimensions with a half-cylindrical hyperlens based on split ring resonators

Hyperlenses based on metamaterials can be applied to subwavelength imaging in the lightwave band.In this letter,we demonstrate both through simulations and experimentally verified results that our proposed halfcylindrical shaped hyperlens can be used for super-resolution microwave focusing in a TE mode.Based on split ring resonators,the hyperlens satisfies a hyperbolic dispersion relationship.Simulations demonstrate that the focused spot size and position are insensitive to the rotation angle of the hyperlens around its geometric center.Experimental results show that a focused spot size 1/3 of the vacuum wavelength is achieved in the microwave band.     

Ultracompact plasmonic racetrack resonators in metal-insulator-metal waveguides

Among various plasmonic waveguides, the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) type is the most promising for true subwavelength photonic integration. To date, many photonic devices based on MIM waveguides have been investigated, including resonators. However, most of the reported MIM ring resonators suffer from low extinction ratios and the reasons are unexplored in the literature. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of the underlying causes of the low performance of MIM ring resonators, and give the analytical transmission relation for a universal all-pass ring resonator with coupling loss. Based on the analysis we propose plasmonic racetrack resonators in MIM waveguides and show that the performance can be greatly improved.     

局域共振型声学超材料机理探讨

本文以二维固体薄板中的弹性波传播为例, 对基于共振子结构的声学超材料带隙机理进行了探讨, 证明在声学超材料中带隙形成既与共振子对波的散射相位有关, 也与波在共振体之间的几何传播相位有关. 通过调节散射相位和几何传播相位均能实现对色散关系的调控. 基于这一理解, 探究了弹性波超材料中的次波长缺陷态和负折射现象的实现条件.     

含有左手介质双层基底的亚波长谐振腔微带天线研究

将谐振腔引入微带结构,分析和设计了含有左手介质双层基底的亚波长谐振腔微带天线.基于左手介质对右手介质的相位补偿效应,此新型微带天线的高度并没有因为双层基底而大为增加,反而有所降低.计算表明：在一些情况下,大幅度提高的带宽特性突破了传统微带天线的窄带局限,而在另一些情况下,所得到窄带微带天线能够在单频率点谐振鉴频.针对这一特性,将亚波长谐振腔微带天线应用于探测器中,显示了此新型微带天线在目标探测上的优势. 关键词： 微带天线 左手介质 谐振腔     

Magnetoelectric-Field Electrodynamics: Search for Magnetoelectric Point Scatterers

Resonant scattering of electromagnetic (EM) waves by small particles is considered as one of the basic problems in metamaterial science. At present, special subwavelength resonators are considered as structural elements in chiral and bianisotropic metamaterials. There is a general consensus that these small scatterers behave like “artificial atoms” with strong electrical and magnetic responses and an interconnection between these responses. However, the observed effect of magnetoelectric (ME) coupling in these meta-atoms is not associated with the near-field manipulation properties caused by intrinsic magnetoelectricity. This arises the question whether ME point scatterers of EM radiation really exist. In this paper, we show that there are mesoscopic structures with electric and magnetic dipole-carrying excitations that behave like point scatterers with their inherent magnetoelectricity. In such subwavelength resonators, coherent oscillations of the electric polarization and magnetization can be considered as quasistatic oscillations described by electrostatic (ES) and magnetostatic (MS) scalar wave functions. The ME resonance effect arises from the coupling of two, ES and MS, oscillations. The near fields of these resonators, called the ME near fields, are characterized by simultaneous violation of time reversal and inversion symmetry. In study of ME fields and EM problems associated with these fields, we put forward the concept of ME-field electrodynamics.     

三维各向异性超常媒质交错结构的亚波长谐振特性研究

以填充各向异性超常媒质矩形波导中的电磁场解为基础,通过建立与求解填充各向异性超常媒质交错结构的矩形谐振腔的谐振方程,深入研究了三维各向异性超常媒质交错结构的亚波长谐振特性.结果发现,三维各向异性超常媒质交错结构的亚波长谐振条件具有更为多样性的物理解,在固定参数下,其物理解的个数往往超过一个,还针对谐振结构的横向尺寸对亚波长谐振条件的影响进行了讨论.结果表明,随着横向尺寸的减小亚波长谐振条件的物理解数量将逐渐增多直至趋于无穷.这意味着即使超常媒质的本构参数无法控制,仍然可以通过调节谐振结构的横向尺寸来得到亚波长谐振腔. 关键词： 各向异性 超常媒质 交错结构 亚波长谐振     

Realizing optical magnetism from dielectric metamaterials

We demonstrate, for the first time, an all-dielectric metamaterial composite in the midinfrared based on micron-sized, high-index tellurium dielectric resonators. Dielectric resonators are desirable compared to conventional metallodielectric metamaterials at optical frequencies as they are largely angular invariant, free of Ohmic loss, and easily integrated into three-dimensional volumes. Measurements and simulation provide evidence of optical magnetism, which could be used for infrared magnetic mirrors, hard or soft surfaces, and subwavelength cavities.     

GHz magnetic response of split ring resonators

Measurements of engineered subwavelength microstructures can be designed to have positive or negative and μ at desired frequencies. We present transmission measurements of a metamaterial consisting of split ring resonators (SRR). Results for different polarizations and propagation directions are presented. The transmission shows a dip even for propagations perpendicular to the SRR plane, provided that the incident electric field is parallel to the sides of the split ring resonators (SRRs) which contain the cuts. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical calculations.     

An approach for mechanically tunable,dynamic terahertz bandstop filters

Theoretical and experimental work was carried out on a terahertz metamaterial bandstop filter comprising an array of identical subwavelength resonators, each formed by fusing a pair of printable metallic U-shapes that have their openings pointing in opposite directions. Linear frequency tunability of the stopband electromagnetic response can be achieved by altering the overlap distance between the two fused shapes. Tuning does not significantly affect the strength or quality factor of the resonance. An approach to create mechanically tunable, dynamic terahertz filters is thereby suggested, with several functional advantages. Meanwhile, an effective equivalent circuit model based on self-inductance, mutual inductance, and capacitance has been proposed.     

Double topological edge states investigation in sonic metamaterials

We investigate the topologically protected sound propagation in sonic metamaterials, analogous to quantum spin hall effect (QSHE). The sonic metamaterials consist of circular rods and meta-molecules arranged in air with a honeycomb-lattice. The on-demand inversion in topological phase can be achieved by two ways of scatterer controls at locally resonant frequency and Bragg frequency. The Helmholtz resonators in the structure are contributed to the formation of subwavelength double Dirac cones which are more likely to appear due to local resonance enhancement with more number of resonators. By combining two sonic metamaterials with different topological invariants, we demonstrate the robust sound propagation and pseudospin-dependent one-way acoustic propagation at the interface. Experimental measurement of the topologically protected acoustic wave transmission matches well with the simulation result.     

Channelling surface plasmons

Channel plasmon polaritons (CPPs) propagating along the bottom of subwavelength grooves cut into a metal surface were recently shown to exhibit strong confinement combined with low propagation loss, a feature that makes this guiding configuration very promising for the realisation of ultracompact photonic components. Here, the results of our investigations of CPP guiding by V-grooves cut into gold are presented, demonstrating efficient large-angle bending and splitting of radiation as well as waveguide-ring resonators and Bragg grating filters. Additionally, we present a simple model based on the effective-index method that accounts for the main features of CPP guiding, thus, providing a clear physical picture of this phenomenon. PACS 73.20.Mf; 71.36.+c; 42.82.-m; 07.79.Fc     

Defect-induced whispering-gallery-mode resonances in optical microdisk resonators

In this Letter we present results of theoretical and experimental studies of whispering-gallery modes in optical microdisk resonators interacting with subwavelength dielectric particles. We predict theoretically and confirm by direct observations that, contrary to the generally accepted models, both peaks of the particle-induced doublet of resonances are redshifted with respect to the position of the initial resonance.     

Left-handed metamaterial based superlens for subwavelength imaging of electromagnetic waves

Lenses made of negative index materials have the ability to focus the propagating and evanescent components of electromagnetic waves. Such a possibility enables super resolution, in turn resulting in sharper, subwavelength size images. In this present work, we present subwavelength imaging that was obtained from a one-dimensional left-handed metamaterial (LHM) composed of alternating layers of split-ring resonators and thin wires. We investigated the effect of the thickness of LHM lenses on image size. The left-handed pass band within the negative permittivity and permeability region is shown experimentally and theoretically for different thicknesses of LHM slabs. We also studied the transmission-phase of LHMs with a different number of unit cells along the propagation direction. The phase decreases with the increasing thicknesses of LHM slabs, proving that the phase velocity is negative in the left-handed transmission band. PACS 42.25.-p; 41.20.Jb; 81.05.-t     

空间盘绕型声学超材料的亚波长拓扑谷自旋态

声子晶体的Dirac线性色散关系,使其具有奇特的声拓扑特性,在声波控制领域具有良好的应用前景.目前,声子晶体的拓扑边缘态主要基于Bragg散射所产生的能带结构,难以实现低频声波的受拓扑保护单向边缘传输.本文引入空间盘绕结构,设计了具有C_(3v)对称性的空间盘绕型声学超材料,并研究其布里渊区高对称点(K/K'点)的亚波长Dirac锥形线性色散.接着,通过旋转打破空间盘绕型声学超材料的镜像对称性,使其Dirac简并锥裂开而产生亚波长拓扑相变和亚波长拓扑谷自旋态.最后,采用拓扑相位互逆的声学超材料构造拓扑界面,实现声拓扑谷自旋传输.空间盘绕型声学超材料的亚波长Dirac线性色散与亚波长拓扑谷自旋态突破了声子拓扑绝缘体的几何尺寸限制,为声拓扑稳健传输在低频段的应用提供理论基础.