One-way propagation of light in Born-Infeld-like metamaterials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of nonlinear metamaterials that enable one-way light propagation and serve as analog models for exploring the Born-Infeld Lagrangian in high-field regimes.

Contribution

It proposes and analyzes a family of nonlinear metamaterials facilitating unidirectional light propagation and modeling Born-Infeld field theories.

Findings

Demonstration of one-way light propagation in proposed metamaterials

Potential for using these media as analog models for Born-Infeld fields

Foundation for future experimental and theoretical studies

Abstract

We propose and investigate a family of nonlinear metamaterials in which light rays propagate just in one direction -- one-way propagation. Furthermore, we argue how such nonlinear media could provide an analog model for investigating the Born-Infeld Lagrangian in the realm of fields larger than its scale field.