title: An extraordinary directive radiation based on optical antimatter at near infrared.
abstract: In this paper we discuss and experimentally demonstrate that in a quasi- zero-average-refractive-index (QZAI) metamaterial, in correspondence of a divergent source in near infrared (λ = 1.55 μm) the light scattered out is extremely directive (Δθ(out) = 0.06°), coupling with diffraction order of the alternating complementary media grating. With a high degree of accuracy the measurements prove also the excellent vertical confinement of the beam even in the air region of the metamaterial, in absence of any simple vertical confinement mechanism. This extremely sensitive device works on a large contact area and open news perspective to integrated spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM Unità di Napoli, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy. vito.mocella@na.imm.cnr.it
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mocella
authors.forename: Principia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dardano
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rendina
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabrini