Topological Transitions in Metamaterials

Author

• Harish N.S. Krishnamoorthy, City University of New York (CUNY); Ctr Photon & Multiscale Nanomat
• Zubin Jacob, University of Alberta
• Evgenii Narimanov, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue UniversityFollow
• Ilona Kretzschmar, City University of New York (CUNY)
• Vinod M. Menon, City University of New York (CUNY)

Abstract

Light-matter interactions can be controlled by manipulating the photonic environment. We uncovered an optical topological transition in strongly anisotropic metamaterials that results in a dramatic increase in the photon density of states-an effect that can be used to engineer this interaction. We describe a transition in the topology of the iso-frequency surface from a closed ellipsoid to an open hyperboloid by use of artificially nanostructured metamaterials. We show that this topological transition manifests itself in increased rates of spontaneous emission of emitters positioned near the metamaterial. Altering the topology of the iso-frequency surface by using metamaterials provides a fundamentally new route to manipulating light-matter interactions.

Keywords

NEGATIVE REFRACTION; OPTICAL HYPERLENS; EMISSION; METAL

DOI

10.1126/science.1219171

Citation

Science 13 Apr 2012: Vol. 336, Issue 6078, pp. 205-209 DOI: 10.1126/science.1219171

Date of this Version

4-13-2012

Recommended Citation

Krishnamoorthy, Harish N.S.; Jacob, Zubin; Narimanov, Evgenii; Kretzschmar, Ilona; and Menon, Vinod M., "Topological Transitions in Metamaterials" (2012). Birck and NCN Publications. Paper 1209.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1219171