Overcoming losses with gain in a negative refractive index metamaterial.
On the basis of a full-vectorial three-dimensional Maxwell-Bloch approach we investigate the possibility of using gain to overcome losses in a negative refractive index fishnet metamaterial. We show that appropriate placing of optically pumped laser dyes (gain) into the metamaterial structure results in a frequency band where the nonbianisotropic metamaterial becomes amplifying. In that region both the real and the imaginary part of the effective refractive index become simultaneously negative and the figure of merit diverges at two distinct frequency points.
Wuestner
Sebastian
S
Advanced Technology Institute and Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU27XH Surrey, United Kingdom.
Pusch
Andreas
A
Tsakmakidis
Kosmas L
KL
Hamm
Joachim M
JM
Hess
Ortwin
O