An omnidirectional retroreflector based on the transmutation of dielectric singularities
- 28 June 2009
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature Materials
- Vol. 8 (8), 639-642
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2489
Abstract
In the field of transformation optics, metamaterials mimic the effect of coordinate transformations on electromagnetic waves, creating the illusion that the waves are propagating through a virtual space. Transforming space by appropriately designed materials makes devices possible that have been deemed impossible. In particular, transformation optics has led to the demonstration of invisibility cloaking for microwaves, surface plasmons and infrared light. Here we report the achievement of another "impossible task". We implement, for microwaves, a device that would normally require a dielectric singularity, an infinity in the refractive index. We transmute a singularity in virtual space into a mere topological defect in a real metamaterial. In particular, we demonstrate an omnidirectional retroreflector, a device for faithfully reflecting images and for creating high visibility, from all directions. Our method is robust, potentially broadband and similar techniques could be applied for visible lightKeywords
This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- Transforming LightScience, 2008
- Superlenses to overcome the diffraction limitNature Materials, 2008
- Negative Refractive Index at Optical WavelengthsScience, 2007
- Electrodynamics of MetamaterialsPublished by World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd ,2007
- Metamaterial Electromagnetic Cloak at Microwave FrequenciesScience, 2006
- General relativity in electrical engineeringNew Journal of Physics, 2006
- Optical Conformal MappingScience, 2006
- Controlling Electromagnetic FieldsScience, 2006
- Metamaterials and Negative Refractive IndexScience, 2004
- The Theory of CompositesPublished by Cambridge University Press (CUP) ,2002