Nonlinear properties of left-handed metamaterials.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the hysteresis-type dependence of the magnetic permeability on the field intensity allows changing the material properties from left- to right-handed and back.
Abstract: We analyze the properties of microstructured materials with negative refraction, the so-called left-handed metamaterials. We consider a two-dimensional periodic structure created by arrays of wires and split-ring resonators embedded into a nonlinear dielectric, and calculate the effective nonlinear electric permittivity and magnetic permeability. We demonstrate that the hysteresis-type dependence of the magnetic permeability on the field intensity allows changing the material properties from left- to right-handed and back. These effects can be treated as the second-order phase transitions in the transmission properties induced by the variation of an external field.
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TL;DR: This Review summarizes research on photonic, terahertz and microwave electromagnetic metamaterials and metadevices with functionalities attained through the exploitation of phase-change media, semiconductors, graphene, carbon nanotubes and liquid crystals.
Abstract: Metamaterials, artificial electromagnetic media that are structured on the subwavelength scale, were initially suggested for the negative-index 'superlens'. Later metamaterials became a paradigm for engineering electromagnetic space and controlling propagation of waves: the field of transformation optics was born. The research agenda is now shifting towards achieving tunable, switchable, nonlinear and sensing functionalities. It is therefore timely to discuss the emerging field of metadevices where we define the devices as having unique and useful functionalities that are realized by structuring of functional matter on the subwavelength scale. In this Review we summarize research on photonic, terahertz and microwave electromagnetic metamaterials and metadevices with functionalities attained through the exploitation of phase-change media, semiconductors, graphene, carbon nanotubes and liquid crystals. The Review also encompasses microelectromechanical metadevices, metadevices engaging the nonlinear and quantum response of superconductors, electrostatic and optomechanical forces and nonlinear metadevices incorporating lumped nonlinear components.
1,741 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that metacrystals-superlattices of metamaterials with judiciously designed properties-provide a platform for designing topologically non-trivial photonic states, similar to those identified for condensed-matter topological insulators.
Abstract: Recent progress in understanding the topological properties of condensed matter has led to the discovery of time-reversal-invariant topological insulators. A remarkable and useful property of these materials is that they support unidirectional spin-polarized propagation at their surfaces. Unfortunately topological insulators are rare among solid-state materials. Using suitably designed electromagnetic media (metamaterials) we theoretically demonstrate a photonic analogue of a topological insulator. We show that metacrystals-superlattices of metamaterials with judiciously designed properties-provide a platform for designing topologically non-trivial photonic states, similar to those that have been identified for condensed-matter topological insulators. The interfaces of the metacrystals support helical edge states that exhibit spin-polarized one-way propagation of photons, robust against disorder. Our results demonstrate the possibility of attaining one-way photon transport without application of external magnetic fields or breaking of time-reversal symmetry. Such spin-polarized one-way transport enables exotic spin-cloaked photon sources that do not obscure each other.
1,509 citations
TL;DR: The potential of transformation optics to create functionalities in which the optical properties can be designed almost at will is reviewed, which can be used to engineer various optical illusion effects, such as the invisibility cloak.
Abstract: Transformation optics describes the capability to design the path of light waves almost at will through the use of metamaterials that control effective materials properties on a subwavelength scale. In this review, the physics and applications of transformation optics are discussed.
1,085 citations
TL;DR: This work proposes a novel way to achieve an exceptionally wide frequency range where metamaterial possesses negative effective permeability, and demonstrates that, with an appropriate design, a frequency band exceeding 100% is available for a range of signal amplitudes.
Abstract: We propose a novel way to achieve an exceptionally wide frequency range where metamaterial possesses negative effective permeability. This can be achieved by employing a nonlinear response of metamaterials. We demonstrate that, with an appropriate design, a frequency band exceeding 100% is available for a range of signal amplitudes. Our proposal provides a significant improvement over the linear approach, opening a road towards broadband negative refraction and its applications.
1,046 citations
TL;DR: The concept of parity-time symmetric systems is rooted in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics where complex potentials obeying this symmetry could exhibit real spectra as discussed by the authors, which has applications in many fields of physics, e.g., in optics, metamaterials, acoustics, Bose-Einstein condensation, electronic circuitry, etc.
Abstract: The concept of parity-time symmetric systems is rooted in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics where complex potentials obeying this symmetry could exhibit real spectra. The concept has applications in many fields of physics, e.g., in optics, metamaterials, acoustics, Bose-Einstein condensation, electronic circuitry, etc. The inclusion of nonlinearity has led to a number of new phenomena for which no counterparts exist in traditional dissipative systems. Several examples of nonlinear parity-time symmetric systems in different physical disciplines are presented and their implications discussed.
938 citations
Cites background from "Nonlinear properties of left-handed..."
...The nonlinearity can be introduced by a Kerr dielectric (Zharov, Shadrivov, and Kivshar, 2003) with ε(|E|2) = ε0 ( εℓ + α|E|2/E2c ) , where ε0 is the permittivity of the vacuum, εℓ is the linear dielectric permittivity, Ec is a characteristic electric field, and α = ±1 is the sign of nonlinearity....
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References
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10,495 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that microstructures built from nonmagnetic conducting sheets exhibit an effective magnetic permeability /spl mu/sub eff/, which can be tuned to values not accessible in naturally occurring materials.
Abstract: We show that microstructures built from nonmagnetic conducting sheets exhibit an effective magnetic permeability /spl mu//sub eff/, which can be tuned to values not accessible in naturally occurring materials, including large imaginary components of /spl mu//sub eff/. The microstructure is on a scale much less than the wavelength of radiation, is not resolved by incident microwaves, and uses a very low density of metal so that structures can be extremely lightweight. Most of the structures are resonant due to internal capacitance and inductance, and resonant enhancement combined with compression of electrical energy into a very small volume greatly enhances the energy density at critical locations in the structure, easily by factors of a million and possibly by much more. Weakly nonlinear materials placed at these critical locations will show greatly enhanced effects raising the possibility of manufacturing active structures whose properties can be switched at will between many states.
8,135 citations
TL;DR: A composite medium, based on a periodic array of interspaced conducting nonmagnetic split ring resonators and continuous wires, that exhibits a frequency region in the microwave regime with simultaneously negative values of effective permeability and permittivity varepsilon(eff)(omega).
Abstract: We demonstrate a composite medium, based on a periodic array of interspaced conducting nonmagnetic split ring resonators and continuous wires, that exhibits a frequency region in the microwave regime with
8,057 citations
TL;DR: A mechanism for depression of the plasma frequency into the far infrared or even GHz band is proposed: Periodic structures built of very thin wires dilute the average concentration of electrons and considerably enhance the effective electron mass through self-inductance.
Abstract: The plasmon is a well established collective excitation of metals in the visible and near UV, but at much lower frequencies dissipation destroys all trace of the plasmon and typical Drude behavior sets in. We propose a mechanism for depression of the plasma frequency into the far infrared or even GHz band: Periodic structures built of very thin wires dilute the average concentration of electrons and considerably enhance the effective electron mass through self-inductance. Computations replicate the key features and confirm our analytic theory. The new structure has novel properties not observed before in the GHz band, including some possible impact on superconducting properties.
3,954 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe an all-angle negative refraction effect that does not employ a negative effective index of refraction and involves photonic crystals, and demonstrate this phenomenon using a microsuperlens.
Abstract: We describe an all-angle negative refraction effect that does not employ a negative effective index of refraction and involves photonic crystals. A few simple criteria sufficient to achieve this behavior are presented. To illustrate this phenomenon, a microsuperlens is designed and numerically demonstrated.
914 citations