Stopping light by an air waveguide with anisotropic metamaterial cladding

TL;DR

This paper explores how anisotropic metamaterial cladding in an air waveguide can support slow and stopped light, combining theoretical analysis with simulations to demonstrate potential for light trapping.

Contribution

It introduces a novel waveguide design with anisotropic metamaterials enabling complete light stoppage, validated through comprehensive simulations.

Findings

Support for slow and stopped electromagnetic waves in air waveguides

Validation of theoretical models with FDTD simulations

Proposal of a linearly tapped waveguide structure for light trapping

Abstract

We present a detailed study of oscillating modes in a slab waveguide with air core and anisotropic metamaterial cladding. It is shown that, under specific dielectric configurations, slow and even stopped electromagnetic wave can be supported by such an air waveguide. We propose a linearly tapped waveguide structure that could lead the propagating light to a complete standstill. Both the theoretical analysis and the proposed waveguide have been validated by full-wave simulation based on finite-difference time-domain method.