Direct observation of ideal electromagnetic fluids

Hao Li, Ziheng Zhou, Wangyu Sun, Michaël Lobet, Nader Engheta (), Iñigo Liberal () and Yue Li ()
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Hao Li: Tsinghua University
Ziheng Zhou: Tsinghua University
Wangyu Sun: Tsinghua University
Michaël Lobet: University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61
Nader Engheta: University of Pennsylvania
Iñigo Liberal: Public University of Navarre (UPNA)
Yue Li: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Near-zero-index (NZI) media have been theoretically identified as media where electromagnetic radiations behave like ideal electromagnetic fluids. Within NZI media, the electromagnetic power flow obeys equations similar to those of motion for the velocity field in an ideal fluid, so that optical turbulence is intrinsically inhibited. Here, we experimentally observe the electromagnetic power flow distribution of such an ideal electromagnetic fluid propagating within a cutoff waveguide by a semi-analytical reconstruction technique. This technique provides direct proof of the inhibition of electromagnetic vorticity at the NZI frequency, even in the presence of complex obstacles and topological changes in the waveguide. Phase uniformity and spatially-static field distributions, essential characteristics of NZI materials, are also observed. Measurement of the same structure outside the NZI frequency range reveals existence of vortices in the power flow, as expected for conventional optical systems. Therefore, our results provide an important step forward in the development of ideal electromagnetic fluids, and introduce a tool to explore the subwavelength behavior of NZI media including fully vectorial and phase information.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32187-2

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