We theoretically demonstrate the possibility of dynamically controlling the response of metamaterials at optical frequencies using the well known phenomenon of coherent control. Our results predict a variety of effects ranging from dramatic reduction of losses associated with the resonant response of metamaterials to switchable ultraslow to superluminal propagation of pulses governed by the magnetic field of the incident wave. These effects, generic to all metamaterials having a resonant response, involve embedding the metamaterial in resonant dispersive coherent atomic/molecular media. These effects may be utilized for narrow band switching applications and detectors for radiation below predetermined cut-off frequencies.

Date Published: 1 September 2009
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 7392, Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications II, 73921S (1 September 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.825969

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7392:
Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications II
Mikhail A. Noginov; Nikolay I. Zheludev; Allan D. Boardman; Nader Engheta, Editor(s)