Negative Refraction Slabs with Varying Indexed Metamaterial

Yao Shen

doi:10.12691/ijp-6-2-2

Abstract

Negative refraction is a specific optical phenomenon made possible by a negative index material. A slab with negative refraction is an alternative to a normal lens. This type of lens is significantly superior to an ordinary lens. Negative refraction lenses with a single index â1 had been discussed by Pendry in recent decades. Our research focuses on an analytical and numerical method to demonstrate the optical properties and restrictions of negative refraction slabs with a gradient index. The position of focus changes depending on the incident angle. Different from normal varying indexed slab, we give the reason why the negative refraction slabs with varying index could not make a perfect lens. Only negative refraction slab with single index â1 could focus lights on one point, thus make a perfect lens.

Highlights

A negative index material (NIM) is a type of material where both permittivity and permeability are negative simultaneously
Pendry et al [2,3,4,5] gave details about negative refraction and suggested that realizing negative refraction was feasible with molecules with non-trivial broken symmetry, which were called split-ring resonators (SRRs) respectively
NIMs have become popular in terms of optical properties in electromagnetic fields

Summary

Introduction

A negative index material (NIM) is a type of material where both permittivity and permeability are negative simultaneously. Pendry et al [2,3,4,5] gave details about negative refraction and suggested that realizing negative refraction was feasible with molecules with non-trivial broken symmetry, which were called split-ring resonators (SRRs) respectively. Pendry gave negative refraction lens with a single index −1 as an example and pointed that it was a perfect lens. We give the theoretical derivation and calculation of a negative refraction slab with a gradient index to research whether it could make a perfect lens too. This paper is organized as follows: In section 2, we analyze the theoretical results of a negative refraction slab with a gradient index.

Slabs with Two Negative Indices

Slab with Linear Negative Index

Slab with Parabolic Negative Index

Numerical Simulation

Light Interference

Conclusion and Discussion