From Positive- to Negative-Index Materials: Transitional Phenomena

TL;DR

This paper investigates electromagnetic wave behavior at the transition layer between positive- and negative-index materials, revealing singularities and energy dissipation phenomena that could enable new low-intensity nonlinear optical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of wave propagation through inhomogeneous metamaterials with zero permittivity and permeability points, highlighting singular behaviors and energy dissipation effects.

Findings

Singular behavior of TE and TM waves at zero permittivity and permeability points.

Finite energy dissipation occurs even with minimal losses.

Potential for new low-intensity nonlinear optical devices.

Abstract

Electromagnetic field propagation through a transition layer between the positive-index and negative-index materials with linearly changing dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability was investigated. It is shown that at oblique incidence, the components of both TE- and TM-waves exhibit singular behavior in the vicinity of the point where both dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability are equal to zero. In this case, finite dissipation of electromagnetic field energy takes place even at infinitesimally small values of losses. These results are applicable to a broader class of inhomogeneous metamaterials and may provide a new platform for the realization of low intensity nonlinear optics in metamaterials.