Principles of a new method of obtaining optical metamaterials

Abstract

Metamaterials that are network-type silver–dielectric structures are currently the most promising substances for observing negative refractive index in the optical region. This paper proposes a method for forming such metamaterials on the basis of silver-containing glasses. The method is based on the procedure of poling silver-containing glasses using an electrode (an anode) with a relief picture on the contact surface. When polarized glasses are heat-treated in a hydrogen atmosphere, a metallic (silver) film that replicates the electrode relief is formed on the surface of the glass. The corresponding picture and modulation depth of the electrode relief make it possible to create regular network structures of silver nanofilms (either a system of disks or a continuous film with holes) on the glass surface, with a characteristic size of the periodic structural elements less than 500 nm. The unification of the structures thus obtained into sandwiches makes it possible to obtain two-layer metamaterials.