Emergence of an Epsilon-Near-Zero Medium from Microscopic Atomic Principles

TL;DR

This paper shows how a near-zero refractive index can naturally emerge from microscopic atomic interactions in a lattice, leading to significant optical effects and advancing fundamental understanding of macroscopic electromagnetism.

Contribution

It demonstrates the emergence of epsilon-near-zero behavior from first-principles microscopic simulations, not relying on phenomenological models.

Findings

Over thirtyfold increase in effective wavelength in a 25-layer array

Near-zero refractive index arises from atomic-scale interactions

Potential applications in spectroscopy and quantum emitter manipulation

Abstract

We demonstrate that an effective near-zero refractive index can emerge from collective light scattering in a discrete atomic lattice, using essentially exact microscopic simulations. In a 25-layer array, cooperative response leads to over a thirtyfold increase in the effective optical wavelength within the medium, almost eliminating optical phase accumulation, with potential applications in spectroscopy and optical manipulation of quantum emitters. Crucially, the near-zero refractive index arises from first-principles microscopic theory, rather than being imposed through continuous phenomenological effective-medium model - providing conceptually important insight into the emergence of macroscopic electromagnetism from atomic-scale interactions.