‘Trapped rainbow’ storage of light in metamaterials

Kosmas L. Tsakmakidis (), Allan D. Boardman and Ortwin Hess ()
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Kosmas L. Tsakmakidis: Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey
Allan D. Boardman: Photonics and Nonlinear Science Group, Joule Laboratory, University of Salford
Ortwin Hess: Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey

Nature, 2007, vol. 450, issue 7168, 397-401

Abstract: Rainbow's end Metamaterials — transparent materials containing tiny metallic inclusions of various shapes and arrangements — cause light to propagate in unusual ways. Now a new, theoretical metamaterial architecture is proposed, with the potential to bring light to a complete standstill. In contrast to previous methods of decelerating and storing light, this scheme simultaneously allows both high in-coupling efficiency and broadband, room-temperature operation. At a critical point a light ray is prevented from propagating; each frequency component (or colour) of the wave stops at a slightly different place, leading to the formation of a 'trapped rainbow'. This work bridges the gap between two important contemporary realms of science, metamaterials and slow light, and may lead to applications in optical data processing and storage or the realization of quantum optical memories.

Date: 2007
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06285

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