Negative Refraction Studies

We have developed a promising new idea on how to implement negative refraction at optical frequencies and with low loss (Kaestel, Fleischhauer, Yelin, Walsworth, Physical Review Letters, 99, 073602 (2007)). The idea exploits "Electromagnetically Induced Chirality" (EIC): i.e., the use of quantum interference effects similar to EIT (Electromagnetically Induced Transparency) to couple a magnetic dipole transition coherently with an electric dipole transition, which enables negative refraction without requiring negative permeability while also suppressing absorption.

We are planning to implement this idea experimentally, guided by additional theoretical work, with the first step being demonstration of EIC in atomic vapor. In parallel we are identifying theoretically the most promising systems in which the EIC effect can be realized sufficiently strongly to lead to negative refraction with minimal absorption.

Recent Posters (click to download)

References:

Tunable negative refraction without absorption via electromagnetically induced chirality.