Metamaterials: Optical Activity without Chirality

E. Plum, X.-X. Liu, V. A. Fedotov, Y. Chen, D. P. Tsai, and N. I. Zheludev
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 113902 – Published 19 March 2009

Abstract

We report that the classical phenomenon of optical activity, which is traditionally associated with chirality (helicity) of organic molecules, proteins, and inorganic structures, can be observed in artificial planar media which exhibit neither 3D nor 2D chirality. We observe the effect in the microwave and optical parts of the spectrum at oblique incidence to regular arrays of nonchiral subwavelength metamolecules in the form of strong circular dichroism and birefringence indistinguishable from those of chiral three-dimensional media.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 28 July 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.113902

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

E. Plum1, X.-X. Liu1,2, V. A. Fedotov1, Y. Chen3, D. P. Tsai2, and N. I. Zheludev1,*

  • 1Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, Republic of China
  • 3Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom

  • *niz@orc.soton.ac.uk www.nanophotonics.org.uk/niz/

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 11 — 20 March 2009

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×