Studies on Negative Refractive Index without Absorption

TL;DR

This paper explores methods to achieve negative refraction without absorption by using frequency translators in composite systems, aiming to overcome limitations of traditional approaches like EIT.

Contribution

It proposes a novel approach employing frequency translators to enable negative refraction over a range of optical frequencies without absorption.

Findings

Frequency translators can provide negative refraction across multiple optical frequencies.

Composite systems with frequency translators can enhance refractive index.

The approach potentially overcomes the need for dense media and resonant transitions.

Abstract

Which systems are ideal to obtain negative refraction with no absorption? Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is a method to suppress absorption and make a material transparent to a field of a given frequency. Such a system has been discussed in [1]; however the main limitations for negative refraction introduced are the necessity of resonant electric and magnetic dipole transitions, and the necessity of very dense media. We suggest using frequency translators in a composite system that would provide negative refraction for a range of optical frequencies while attempting to overcome the limitations discussed above. In the process of using frequency translators, we also find composite systems that can be used for refractive index enhancement.