Enhanced diffraction from a grating on the surface of a negative-index metamaterial

We show by numerical simulation as well as by measurements on negative-index metamaterial wedge samples, that the unavoidable stepping of the refraction interface-due to the finite unit-cell size inherent to metamaterials-can give rise to a well-defined diffracted beam in addition to the negatively...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 93; no. 13; p. 137405
Main Authors Smith, D R, Rye, P M, Mock, J J, Vier, D C, Starr, A F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 24.09.2004
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Summary:We show by numerical simulation as well as by measurements on negative-index metamaterial wedge samples, that the unavoidable stepping of the refraction interface-due to the finite unit-cell size inherent to metamaterials-can give rise to a well-defined diffracted beam in addition to the negatively refracted beam. The direction of the diffracted beam is consistent with elementary diffraction theory; however, the coupling to this higher order beam is much larger than would be the case for a positive index material. The results confirm recent theoretical predictions of enhanced diffraction for negative-index grating surfaces.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.137405