Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How to realize a negative refractive index material at the atomic level in an optical frequency range?

  • Science Letters
  • Published:
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The theoretical mechanism for realizing a negative refractive index material in an optical frequency range with an atomic gas system of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is studied. It is shown that under certain conditions such a dense gas can exhibit simultaneously negative permittivity and negative permeability, and negligibly small loss.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chen, L., He, S., Shen, L., 2004. Finite-size effects of a left-handed material slab on the image quality.Phys. Rev. Lett.,92:107404-(1-4)–107404-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, R.D., 1981. The Theory of Atomic Structure and Spectra. Univ. of California Press. Berkeley, Calif., Appendix D, p.640.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Davanco, M., Holmström P., Blumenthal, D.J., Thylén, L., 2003. Directional coupler wavelength filters based on waveguides exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency.IEEE J. Quantum Electron,39:608–613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grbic, A., Eleftheriades, G.V., 2004. Overcoming the diffraction limit with a planar left-handed transmission-line lens.Phys. Rev. Lett.,92:117403-(1-4)–117403-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, S.E., 1997. Electromagnetically induced transparency.Phys. Today,50(7):36–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J.D., 2001. Classical Electrodynamics, 3rd Ed., Wiley, New York, p. 158–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y.Q., Xiao, M., 1995. Transient properties of an electromagnetically induced transparency in three-level atoms.Opt. Lett.,20:1489–1491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pendry, J.B., 2000. Negative refraction makes a perfect lens.Phys. Rev. Lett.,85:3966–3969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, H., Imamoĝlu, A., 1996. Giant Kerr nonlinearities obtained by electromagnetically induced transparency.Opt. Lett.,21:1936–1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scully, M.O., Zubairy, M.S., 1997. Quantum Optics. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, See. 7.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shelby, R.A., Smith, D.R., Schultz, S., 2001. Experimental verification of a negative index of refraction.Science,292:77–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Optical and Electromagnetic Research, Joint Research Centre of Photonics of the Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, 310027, Hangzhou, China

    Jian-qi Shen, Zhi-chao Ruan & Sai-ling He

  2. Laboratory of Photonics and Microwave Engineering, Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Electrum 229, SE-164 40, Kista, Sweden

    Sai-ling He

Authors
  1. Jian-qi Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhi-chao Ruan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sai-ling He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian-qi Shen.

Additional information

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (NSF) of China (Nos. 90101024 and 60378037), and the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No. 2004CB719805)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shen, Jq., Ruan, Zc. & He, Sl. How to realize a negative refractive index material at the atomic level in an optical frequency range?. J. Zheijang Univ.-Sci. 5, 1322–1326 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2004.1322

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2004.1322

Key words

Document code

CLC number

Search

Navigation