Transformation optics with nonlocal photonic media

Abstract

Metamaterials and transformation optics have enormously enriched human's ability to control electromagnetic waves and light, leading to novel applications such as cloaking, exotic lens, illusion optics, etc.. In previous designs of transformation optics devices, local media with special parameters such as negative values and suitable anisotropy have been widely used. The parameters of these local media are often required to have complex spatial distribution, but are usually assumed to be independent of the wave vector. These parameters are di-cult to achieve, usually involving both resonances in permittivity and permeability. However, transformation optics can also be achieved by using nonlocal photonic media with parameters not only dependent on frequency and position, but also on the wave vector. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate realization of nonlocal photonic media with suitable k-dependence, so as to achieve interesting applications such as wide-angle Brewster's angle and transformation optics devices (1). Our work shows the possibility of nonlocal photonic media in controlling electromagnetic waves and light in unprecedented manner.