Negative-index metamaterial at visible frequencies

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  • 14 July 2006
Abstract
In 1951, G.D. Malyuzhinets pointed out that a negative phase velocity c of an electromagnetic wave can be accomplished in certain periodic electronic circuits composed of capacitances C and inductances L. Here, ''negative'' refers to the backward direction opposite to the forward energy flow. If the resulting electromagnetic wavelength l is larger than the circuit lattice constant a, the circuit can be considered as an effective medium with a negative index of refraction n. The miniaturization of the C and L components has led to 10 GHz operation frequency in 2001 and via intermediate steps to frequencies around 200 THz in the years 2005/2006, albeit with modified circuit designs. In this letter, we fabricate a silver-based negative-index metamaterial at 384 THz visible frequency and give direct evidence for the negative phase velocity by phase-sensitive ''time-of-flight' experiments.

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