Optics near an hyperbolic defect

TL;DR

This paper explores hyperbolic disclinations in metamaterials, revealing their ability to confine light via geodesic spirals, which could lead to advanced optical absorber designs without requiring light coherence.

Contribution

It introduces hyperbolic disclinations as a new defect type in hyperbolic metamaterials and analyzes their unique light-trapping properties through geodesic analysis.

Findings

Light is confined in hyperbolic disclinations regardless of impact parameter.

The confinement persists in wave formalism, indicating potential for practical applications.

Timelike geodesics form Poinsot spirals around the defect core.

Abstract

We examine the properties of a new family of defects called hyperbolic disclinations, and discuss their possible use for the design of perfect optical absorbers. In hyperbolic metamaterials, the ratio of ordinary and extraordinary permittivities is negative, which leads to an effective metric of Kleinian signature (two timelike coordinates). Considering a disclination in the hyperbolic nematic host matrix, we show that the timelike geodesics are Poinsot spirals, i.e. whatever the impact parameter of an incident light beam, it is confined and whirls about the defect core. The trapping effect does not require light to be coherent. This property also remains in the wave formalism, which may be the sign for many potential applications.