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Electromagnetic waves

Negative refraction by photonic crystals

Abstract

Materials that can bend light in the opposite direction to normal ('left-handed' materials) reverse the way in which refraction usually works — this negative refractive index is due to simultaneously negative permeability and permittivity1,2,3. Here we demonstrate negative refraction of electromagnetic waves in a two-dimensional dielectric photonic crystal that has a periodically modulated positive permittivity and a permeability of unity4,5,6. This experimental verification of negative refraction is a step towards the realization of a 'superlens' that will be able to focus features smaller than the wavelength of light.

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Figure 1: Comparison of positive and negative refraction.

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Correspondence to Ertugrul Cubukcu.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Cubukcu, E., Aydin, K., Ozbay, E. et al. Negative refraction by photonic crystals. Nature 423, 604–605 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/423604b

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