Total transmission and total reflection by zero index materials

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how zero index materials can be engineered to achieve total electromagnetic wave transmission or reflection by manipulating defects, with potential applications in cloaking and shielding.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control wave transmission and reflection in zero index materials through defect engineering and tunable refractive index materials.

Findings

Total transmission and reflection achieved by defect control.

Simulation and theoretical validation of phenomena.

Potential applications in cloaking and shielding.

Abstract

In this report, we achieved total transmission and reflection in a slab of zero index materials with defect(s). By controlling the defect's radius and dielectric constant, we can obtain total transmission and reflection of EM wave. The zero index materials, in this report, stand for materials with permittivity and permeability which are simultaneously equal to zero or so called matched impedance zero index materials. Along with theoretical calculations and simulation demonstrations, we also discuss about some possible applications for the proposed structure such as shielding or cloaking an object without restricting its view. We also suggest a way to control total transmission and reflection actively by using tunable refractive index materials such as liquid crystal and BST. The physics behind those phenomena is attributed to intrinsic properties of zero index materials: constant field inside zero index slab.