Transforming space with non-Hermitian dielectrics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel approach to transformation optics using non-Hermitian dielectrics, enabling broadband unidirectional cloaking by manipulating complex refractive indices through non-conformal coordinate transformations.

Contribution

It demonstrates how non-conformal transformations relate to complex refractive indices in isotropic non-Hermitian media, allowing cloaking without sub-unity refractive indices.

Findings

Design of a broadband unidirectional dielectric cloak

Linking non-conformal transformations to complex refractive indices

Circumventing the need for sub-unity refractive indices

Abstract

Coordinate transformations are a versatile tool to mould the flow of light, enabling a host of astonishing phenomena such as optical cloaking with metamaterials. Moving away from the usual restriction that links isotropic materials with conformal transformations, we show how non-conformal distortions of optical space are intimately connected to the complex refractive index distribution of an isotropic non-Hermitian medium. Remarkably, this insight can be used to circumvent the material requirement of working with refractive indices below unity, which limits the applications of transformation optics. We apply our approach to design a broadband unidirectional dielectric cloak, which relies on non-conformal coordinate transformations to tailor the nonHermitian refractive index profile around a cloaked object. Our insights bridge the fields of two-dimensional transformation optics and non-Hermitian photonics.