$\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-Symmetry-Induced Wave Confinement and Guiding in Epsilon-Near-Zero Metamaterials

Abstract

Inspired by the parity-time symmetry concept, we show that a judicious spatial modulation of gain and loss in epsilon-near-zero metamaterials can induce the propagation of exponentially-bound interface modes characterized by zero attenuation. With specific reference to a bi-layer configuration, via analytical studies and parameterization of the dispersion equation, we show that this waveguiding mechanism can be sustained in the presence of moderate gain/loss levels, and it becomes leaky (i.e., radiative) below a gain/loss threshold. Moreover, we explore a possible rod-based metamaterial implementation, based on realistic material constituents, which captures the essential features of the waveguiding mechanism, in good agreement with our theoretical predictions. Our results may open up new possibilities for the design of optical devices and reconfigurable nanophotonics platforms.

arXiv comment11 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B

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• Realization and application of parity-time-symmetric oscillators in quantum regime
• Exceptional points and their coalescence of PT-symmetric interface states in photonic crystals
• PT-symmetric chiral metamaterials: Asymmetric effects and PT-phase control
• Transmission enhancement in loss-gain multilayers by resonant suppression of reflection
• Non-Hermiticity-Induced Wave Confinement and Guiding in Loss-Gain-Loss Three-Layer Systems
• Accessible phases via wave impedance engineering with PT-symmetric metamaterials
• Harnessing Spectral Singularities in Non-Hermitian Cylindrical Structures
• Field patterns without blow up
• Metamaterials: $\text{supra}$-classical dynamic homogenization
• Broadband mixing of $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric and $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-broken phases in photonic heterostructures with a one-dimensional loss/gain bilayer
• Exceptional points in parity-time symmetric plasmonic Huygens metasurfaces
• Parity-Time Symmetry and Exceptional points: A Tutorial
• Generalized Surface Polaritons and their quantum spin Hall effect
• Rigorous Quantum Formulation of Parity-Time Symmetric Coupled Resonators
• Synthesizing quasi-bound states in the continuum in epsilon-near-zero layered materials