Switching a plasma-like metamaterial via embedded resonant atoms exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to control plasma-like metamaterials by embedding them in atomic media, enabling tunable transparency through electromagnetically induced transparency effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to switch and tune metamaterial transmission properties using embedded resonant atoms and coherent processes like EIT.

Findings

Demonstrates control of metamaterial response via atomic embedding

Shows EIT can enable tunable transmission bands

Provides theoretical framework for active metamaterial modulation

Abstract

We theoretically demonstrate control of the plasma-like effective response of a metamaterial composed of aligned metallic nanorods when the electric field of the incident radiation is parallel to the nanorods. By embedding this metamaterial in a coherent atomic/molecular medium, for example silver nanorod arrays submerged in sodium vapor, we can make the metamaterial transmittive in the forbidden frequency region below its plasma frequency. This phenomenon is enabled by having Lorentz absorbers or other coherent processes like stimulated Raman absorption in the background medium which provide a large positive dielectric permittivity in the vicinity of the resonance, thereby rendering the effective permittivity positive. In particular, processes such as electromagnetically induced transparency are shown to provide additional control to switch and tune the new transmission bands.