Dynamically Tunable Metamaterials

The technology, theory and fabrication of metamaterials have seen impressive progress in the last few years, and various applied fields have benefited from the flexibility of electromagnetic response that metamaterials provide at microwaves, infrared (IR) and/or optical frequencies. Negative-refractive and zero-permittivity metamaterials have been proposed for breakthrough novel applications in many fields, spanning engineering, physics and optics. The objective of this proposal is to design, develop and fabricate proof-of-concept examples of the following tunable geometries: (1) 1-D and 2-D metamaterials composed of metallic gratings as thin optical absorbers and reflectors. We will exploit enhanced absorption and reflection to create new photonic devices by filling the slits with optically active or non-linear material, to create tunable and controllable metamaterial properties; (2) Dynamically tunable 2-D and 3-D arrays of plasmonic nano-antennas loaded with optically active or nonlinear Kerr materials. The concept of nanoantennas has been recently introduced in optics, providing a much required bridge between strongly enhanced local fields and free-space radiation; (3) Dynamically tunable artificially magnetic optical metamaterials. We will exploit the inherent resonant fields near artificially magnetic structures in a metamaterial to induce dynamic tunability. (4) Design and fabricate novel optical nanodevices by applying these concepts.