Metamaterials & Photonics

Shuang Zhang

Department of Physics
Department of EEE

shuzhang@hku.hk

Office: Room 521, CYM Physics Building

Office hour: Fridays 15:30-17:30

 Last lecture

• Effective medium theory – Lorentz and Maxwell-

Garnett theory
Lorentz theory: difference between local field and macroscopic field

Lorentz local field:

Permittivity:

Maxwell-Garnett theory: consider spherical particles embedded in a matrix

2
 This lecture
• Effective medium theory of layered structures -
anisotropy

• Wave propagation inside anisotropic media

• Hyperbolic medium

• Transfer matrix method to model layered

structures

3
 Dispersion of Multilayer Stacks

ϵ1 d1
ϵ2 d2 y
x
z

In the limit d1<< 𝜆/n1 and d2<< 𝜆/n2 , the system can be considered as
a homogeneous medium, but anisotropic.

The permittivity tensors along three principle axis: 𝜺x = 𝜺y ≠ 𝜺z

The effective permittivity tensor elements can be evaluated by

averaging the fields in space.
 Dispersion of Multilayer Stacks

ϵ1 d1
ϵ2 d2 y
x
z

For in-plane E field component, it is continuous across the interface.

So E field is homogeneous everywhere

Average of D field:

Effective permittivity:
 Dispersion of Multilayer Stacks

ϵ1 d1
ϵ2 d2 y
x
z

For out-of-plane E field component, D field is continuous across the interface.

Average of E field:

Effective permittivity:
 Examples of layered medium
A Si/SiO2 multilayer with 50% duty cycle (d1 = d2) @ 𝜆 = 1300 nm

Permittivity of silicon: 12.25

Permittivity of SiO2: 2.25

The composite material has very high anisotropy ~ 28% difference in refractive indices.

In comparison: Some of the strong birefringent crystals Rutile (9.9%) and Calcite (10.3%)
 Examples of layered medium
An Ag/SiO2 multilayer with 33.3% duty cycle (d1 = d2/2) @ 𝜆 = 500 nm

Permittivity of silver: -9.8+0.31i

Permittivity of SiO2: 2.25

Opposite signs between the permittivity tensors along different

directions – Hyperbolic medium.
The assumption for above effective medium formula to hold is that
the field penetrate uniformly into the metallic layer - so the layer
thickness has to be much less than the skin depth, which is about
20 nm.
 Nano-wire medium

𝜀% y
a 𝜀&
r
x

#
𝐷
𝜀!,#$$ = = 𝜀% 𝑓 + 𝜀& (1 − 𝑓)
𝐸

𝜀',(,#$$ ≈ 𝜀&

for small filling ratio and the metallic wire is away from the localized plasmon resonance
 Wave propagation inside birefringent
materials
Features two refractive indices: ne (extraordinary light)
and no (ordinary)
 Wave propagation inside birefringent
materials
Derivation: Starting from the two Curl equations of Maxwell

Where

Taking curl of the first equation

For plane wave solution, replace ∇ by ik

 Wave propagation inside birefringent
materials

For the x component of above equation, we have

Similarly for y and z components (using permutation):

 Wave propagation inside birefringent
materials
The three equations can be organized into a Eigen form:

Solving the eigen equation:

𝑘'& + 𝑘(& + 𝑘!& 𝜔& 𝑘'& + 𝑘(& 𝑘!& 𝜔&

− & + − & =0
ε 𝑐 𝜀! ε 𝑐

where
Not easy, other simpler method?
 Wave propagation inside birefringent
materials
𝜔"
𝑘!" + 𝑘#" − 𝜀
𝑐" 𝐸 − 𝑘 𝐸 − 𝑘 𝐸 = 0 (1)
$ ! ! # #
𝑘$

𝜔"
𝑘$" + 𝑘#" − 𝜀
−𝑘$ 𝐸$ + 𝑐" 𝐸 − 𝑘 𝐸 = 0 (2)
! # #
𝑘!
𝜔"
𝑘$" + 𝑘!" − 𝜀
𝑐" # 𝐸 = 0
−𝑘$ 𝐸$ − 𝑘! 𝐸! + # (3)
𝑘#

(1) – (2): 𝜔" 𝜔"

𝑘" − 𝜀 𝑘 "
− 𝜀 "
𝐸$ 𝐸!
𝑐" 𝐸 − 𝑐" 𝐸 = 0 ⇒ 𝑘" − 𝜔 𝜀 − =0
$ !
𝑘$ 𝑘! 𝑐" 𝑘$ 𝑘!

𝜔! 𝐸" 𝐸#
So we have: 𝑘! − !𝜀=0 if − ≠0 Mode 1, which is isotropic
𝑐 𝑘" 𝑘#

𝐸" 𝐸#
What if − =0 ? 𝐸" 𝑘# − 𝐸# 𝑘" = 0 ⇒ 𝑘×𝐸 $
=0
𝑘" 𝑘#
 𝜔"
𝑘$" + 𝑘#" − 𝜀
−𝑘$ 𝐸$ + 𝑐" 𝐸 − 𝑘 𝐸 = 0 (2)
𝐸" 𝐸# 𝐸" 𝑘! ! # #
− = 0 ⇒ 𝐸# = 𝑘#
𝑘" 𝑘# 𝑘" 𝜔"
𝑘$" + 𝑘!" − 𝜀
−𝑘$ 𝐸$ − 𝑘! 𝐸! + 𝑐" # 𝐸 = 0 (3)
#
𝑘#

𝜔" 𝜔"
𝑘$" + 𝑘#" − 𝜀 𝑘 "
− 𝜀
−𝑘$ 𝐸$ + 𝑐" 𝐸 − 𝑘 𝐸 = 0 ⇒ # 𝑐" 𝐸 − 𝑘 𝐸 = 0
From (2) $ # # $ # #
𝑘$ 𝑘$

𝜔" 𝜔"
𝑘!" 𝐸$ 𝑘$" + 𝑘!"
− " 𝜀# " "
𝑘$ + 𝑘!
" "
𝑘$ + 𝑘! − " 𝜀#
From (3) −𝑘$ 𝐸$ − + 𝑐 𝐸# = 0 ⇒ 𝐸$ + 𝑐 𝐸# = 0
𝑘$ 𝑘# 𝑘$ 𝑘#

Now we have a two-by-two matrix to solve the eigen problem

𝜔! 𝜔!
(𝑘$ − ! 𝜀) (𝑘"!
! + 𝑘#!
− ! 𝜀$ ) (𝑘"!+𝑘#! )
𝑐 𝑐 = −𝑘$
𝑘" 𝑘$ 𝑘"

𝑘"! + 𝑘#! 𝑘$! 𝜔!

+ = ! Mode 2, which is anisotropic
𝜀$ ε 𝑐
 Equifrequency contour of birefringent crystal
kz
Anistropic materials - birefringence D
H E S=ExH

H
E
TE
TM

TE mode

∇5𝐃=0⟹𝐤5𝐃=0
TM mode

𝜀 < 𝜀! 𝜀 > 𝜀!
Equifrequency contour of birefringent crystal
z

TM
TE Light cone

Vg

Ordinary
Extraordinary
 Hyperbolic Metamaterials (Type I)

TE mode

TM mode

Hyperbolic Isosurface
Negative refraction with hyperbolic medium
z
TM

TE Light cone

Vg •J Yao et al, Science 321, 930 (2008)

Ordinary
Extraordinary
 Hyperbolic Metamaterials (Type II)

TE mode LETTER
LET
a 100
a 100Transverse magnetic Type I Type II b 8 8
Transverse magnetic b
Transverse Transverse λo λo
75 electric 6 6 Si, ki Si, ki
75

X
electric
ε⊥ ε⊥
50 4 4
50
ε⊥ ε⊥ 2
25 25
ε || ε || 2
Real(ε )

TM mode
Real(ε )

z /λ
0

z /λ
0 0
0
–2 St St
ε || ε || –2
–25 –25
–4 –4 kt kt
–50 –50
–6 –6
–75 –75
–8 –8
2 42 64 86 108 12
10 14
12 14 –8 –6–8 –4–6 –2–4 0–2 20 42 64 86
WavelengthWavelength
(µm) (µm) x /λ x /λ

c 1,000 1,000
c
10,000
A. J. Hoffman et al, Nat. Mater, 6, 946 (2007)
10,000

100 100
1,000 1,000
 Spatial frequency analysis of imaging

Field pattern at the object:

Where
Propagating
The small feature size of the object is
contained in the large kx, ky
components. However, when in-plane
wavevector is larger than k0:

kz becomes imaginary, and the wave

decays away from the mask, cannot be
picked up by the lens system. Resolution camera
limited by propagating field: 𝛌/2n.
21
decay length is ~100nm at optical frequency
 Superimaging with hyperbolic media

Consider the TM mode

Propagating

Detector

22
olution (1–4) imaging in the near field, mag- perlens consisting of a curved periodic stack optical hyperlens mag
nification of subwavelength features into the of Ag (35 nm) and Al2O3 (35 nm) deposited on limited image and proje
far field has not been possible. It was proposed a half-cylindrical cavity fabricated on a quartz This experiment de

Superimaging with hyperbolic media

that a magnifying superlens could be con-
structed by using cylindrical metamaterials (5, 6).
substrate (Fig. 1A). Sub-diffraction-limited ob- of a hyperlens for su
jects were inscribed into a 50-nm-thick chrome aging. The hyperlens
layer located at the in- transforming the scatter
ner surface (air side). propagating waves in
The anisotropic meta- projecting a high-resol
material was designed field. The optical hype
so that the radial and possibilities in applicatio
tangential permittiv- molecular imaging and
ities have different
signs. Upon illumina- References and Note
tion, the scattered eva- 1. J. B. Pendry, Phys. Rev.
2. N. Fang, H. Lee, C. Sun, X
nescent field from the 3. T. Taubner, D. Korobkin,
object enters the aniso- R. Hillenbrand, Science
tropic medium and prop- 4. D. O. S. Melville, R. J. Bl
agates along the radial (2005).
5. J. B. Pendry, S. A. Ramak
direction. Because of 14, 8463 (2002).
the conservation of an- 6. J. B. Pendry, Opt. Expres
gular momentum, the 7. Z. Jacob, L. V. Alekseyev
tangential wave vectors 8247 (2006).
8. A. Salandrino, N. Engheta
are progressively com- 9. A. A. Govyadinov, V. A. Po
pressed as the waves (2006).
travel outward, resulting 10. D. R. Smith, D. Schurig, P
in a magnified image (2003).
11. B. Wood, J. B. Pendry, D.
at the outer boundary
(2006).
of the hyperlens (7). 12. The authors thank E. Nar
ZWthe
Once Liumagnified
et al, science,
fea- 315discussions
1686 (2007)
and sharing th
ture is larger than the which motivated this expe
diffraction limit, it can by the Army Research Of
Research Initiative (MURI)
then be imaged with a MUR), Air Force Office of
conventional optical mi- no. FA9550-04-1-0434),
croscope. We calculated number DMI0327077.
the electromagnetic field Supporting Online Mate
 Some fundamentals of E&M

• Maxwell Equations and optical properties of materials

• Dispersion relations, Fresnel coefficients, evanescent

wave

• Effective medium approximation and anisotropic media

• Multilayer system (transmission matrix)

• Derivation of surface plasmon dispersion

 Application of multilayer coating
Reflected light

Anti-reflective coating to enhance

transmission

Dielectric mirrors
 Transfer matrix formulation
The transfer matrix across each layer establishes the link between the tangential
fields at the two interfaces it forms with the neighboring layers. e.g. the link between
Transfer matrix formalism
(E01, H01) and (E12, H12). Then the matrices can be multiplied to propagate the link.

E Within each layer, there is a forward

TE polarization
H
−
k0
E
+
k0 propagating mode and a backward
α0 α0
H
propagating mode. (plane waves)
𝑛n!"0
Ei0 Er0 E01 = Et1 + Es1
E01 y
(tangential) n Et1 Es1 Assuming
η0 H 01 = (TE
Et1 −polarization,
Es1 )γ for the
x
1
backward propagating mode, the
z
α1 E positive direction of the E field is
H − +
definedE12to= be
Ei1 +the
Er1 same as that of
k1 k1
(tangential) Ei1 Er1 the forward
η0 H12 = (Epropagating
1 − E 1 )γ
mode.
E12 i r

n2 …
Consequently, the tangential H field
⎛ γ = n1 cos α1 ⎞ would be
Ei1 opposite
= Et1e −iδ to that of incidence.
⎜ 2π ⎟
⎜ δ = d1k z1 = n1d1 cos α1 ⎟ Es1 = Er1e −iδ
⎝ λ ⎠
 Transfer matrix formulation
The transfer matrix across each layer establishes the link between the tangential
fields at the two interfaces it forms with the neighboring layers. e.g. the link between
Transfer matrix formalism
(E01, H01) and (E12, H12). Then the matrices can be multiplied to propagate the link.

The magnetic field and electric

H
E
+
TE polarization
field for each plane wave mode
E k0
−
k0
α0 α0
are related by the impedance of
𝑛n!"0 H the medium.
Ei0 Er0 E01 = Et1 + Es1
E01 y 𝜕𝐷
(tangential) n Et1 Es1 ∇×𝐻 == (Et1⇒
η0 H 01 s1 )γ
− E𝑖𝑘×𝐻 = −𝑖𝜔𝐷
1
x 𝜕𝑡
α1 E
z
For isotropic media, transversality:
H −
k1
+
k1
𝑘𝐻 =E12𝜔𝐷
= Ei1⇒+ E𝑘𝐻 r1 = 𝜔𝜀) 𝜀* 𝐸
(tangential) Ei1 Er1
E12 0 H12 = (Ei1 − Er1 )γ
η𝜔 𝑐
𝐻 = 𝜀) 𝜀* 𝐸 = 𝑣𝜀) 𝜀* 𝐸 = 𝜀) 𝜀* 𝐸
n2 … 𝑘 𝑛
𝐻 𝑐 1
⎛ γ = n1 cos α1 ⎞ = 𝜀 𝜀 =
E = E e − iδ
𝜀 𝜀
𝜂 the impedance, fixed 2for
⎜ π a given ⎟ material 𝐸 𝑛 i)1 * t1 −iδ𝜀) 𝜇) 𝜀* 𝜇* ) *
⎜ δ = d1k z1 = n1d1 cos α1 ⎟ Es1 = Er1e
⎝ λ ⎠
+! % -!
For conventional media, 𝜇* = 1, 𝜂 = = 𝐻 𝜀) 𝜀* 𝜀 1
,! ," . = = =
𝐸 𝜇) 𝜇* 𝜇 𝜂
 Transfer matrix formulation
The transfer matrix across each layer establishes the link between the tangential
fields at the two interfaces it forms with the neighboring layers. e.g. the link between
Transfer matrix formalism
(E01, H01) and (E12, H12). Then the matrices can be multiplied to propagate the link.

E Assume TE polarization:
TE polarization
H +
E k0
−
k0
α0 α0
@ interface 01 (between layer 0 & 1)
𝑛n!"0 H
Ei0 Er0 The tangential fields:
E01 = E 1 + E 1
t s
E01 y
(tangential) n Et1 Es1 η𝐸)%01 =
0H = (𝐸 1 −+
Et/% Es𝐸
1 )0%
γ
1
x

α1 E
z 𝐻)% = (𝐸/% −𝐸0% )𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼% /𝜂%
H − +
@ interface
E12 = Ei12 (between layer 1 & 2)
1 + E r1
k1 k1
(tangential) Ei1 Er1
E12
η𝐸%&12 =
0H = (𝐸i1 −+
E1% Er𝐸
1 )*%
γ
n2 … 𝐻%& = (𝐸1% −𝐸*% )𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼% /𝜂%
⎛ γ = n1 cos α1 ⎞ Ei1 = Et1e −iδ
(𝐸/% , 𝐸0% ) and (𝐸
⎜ 1% , 𝐸*% ) are related by
⎟
Transfer matrix
Es1 for
= Erlayer 1:
2π −iδ
propagation: (𝛿⎜⎝%δ≡ = d𝑘1k z1𝑑= ) n1d1 cos α1 ⎟ 1e
%! % λ ⎠ 𝛾% ≡ 𝑛% 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼%
𝐸1% = 𝐸/% 𝑒 12#$3# = 𝐸/% 𝑒 14# 𝐸)% 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿% −𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿% /𝛾% 𝐸%&
=
𝐸*% = 𝐸0% 𝑒 512#$3# = 𝐸0% 𝑒 514# 𝜂) 𝐻)% −𝑖𝛾% 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿% 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿% 𝜂) 𝐻%&
 Transfer matrix formulation
The transfer matrix across each layer establishes the link between the tangential
fields at the two interfaces it forms with the neighboring layers. e.g. the link between
(E01, H01) and (E12, H12). Then the matrices can be multiplied to propagate the link.
Transfer matrix formalism
E
TE polarization
H
−
k0
E
+
k0 Transfer matrix connects the tangential
𝑛n!"
0
α0 α0
H fields at both ends the jth layer
Ei0 Er0 E01 = Et1 + Es1
E01 y
(tangential) n Et1 Es1 η0 H 01 = (Et1 − Es1 )γ
x
1
𝐸65%,6 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿6 −𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿6 /𝛾6 𝐸6 67%
α1 E
z
=
H
𝜂) 𝐻65%,6 −𝑖𝛾6 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿6 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿6 𝜂) 𝐻6,67%
−
k1
+
k1
E12
= + Ei1 Er1
(tangential) Ei1 Er1
E12
η0 H12 = (Ei1 − Er1 )γ
n2 …
𝑀6
− iδ
⎛ γ = n1 cos α1 ⎞ Ei1 = Et1e
⎜ 2π ⎟
For the overall
⎜ δ = d1k z1 =structure
⎝ λ
n1d1 cos α1 consisting
⎟
⎠
of N layers
Es1 = Er1e −iδ

𝐸)% 𝐸8,87% 𝐸8,87%

= 𝑀% 𝑀& … 𝑀8 = 𝑀/9/
𝜂) 𝐻)% 𝜂) 𝐻8,87% 𝜂) 𝐻8,87%
 Transfer matrix formulation
The transfer matrix across each layer establishes the link between the tangential
fields at the two interfaces it forms with the neighboring layers. e.g. the link between
(E01, H01) and (E12, H12). Then the matrices can be multiplied to propagate the link.
Transfer matrix formalism
E 𝐸)%
TE polarization 𝐸8,87%
= 𝑀/9/
H
k0
− E
+
k0 𝜂) 𝐻)% 𝜂) 𝐻8,87%
α0 α0
n𝑛0 H
!"
Ei0 Er0
y
E01 = Et1 + Es1
𝐸)% 𝑚%% 𝑚%& 𝐸8,87%
E01
= 𝑚
η0 H 01 = (Et1 − Es1 )γ (1)
(tangential) n
1
Et1 Es1
x 𝜂) 𝐻)% &% 𝑚&& 𝜂) 𝐻8,87%
z
α1 E

(tangential) Ei1
H −
k1
+
k1 @
E12 interface
= Ei1 + Er1 01 (between layer 0 and 1)
Er1
η0 H12 = (Ei1 − Er1 )γ
E12
n2
The tangential fields:
…

γ = n cos α
𝐸
Ei1 = Et1)%
e − iδ
= 𝐸1) + 𝐸*)
From (1),
⎛
we⎜ have: 12π 1
⎞
⎟ (2)
⎜ δ = d1k z1 = n1d1 cos α1 ⎟ Es1 = E𝐻
r1e
−iδ
= (𝐸1) −𝐸*) )𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼) /𝜂1.
)%
𝐸)% = 𝑚%% 𝐸8,87% + 𝑚%& 𝜂) 𝐻8,87%
⎝ λ ⎠

@ the last interface (between layer N & N+1)

𝜂) 𝐻)% = 𝑚&% 𝐸8,87% + 𝑚&& 𝜂) 𝐻8,87%
𝐸8,87% = 𝐸/
Substituting (3) into the above eqn:
𝐻8,87% = 𝐸/ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼/ /𝜂/ (3)
𝐸)% = 𝑚%% 𝐸/ + 𝑚%& 𝜂) 𝐸/ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼/ /𝜂/
𝜂) 𝐻)% = 𝑚&% 𝐸/ + 𝑚&& 𝜂) 𝐸/ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼/ /𝜂/
 Transfer matrix formulation

𝑚%& 𝜂) 𝐸/ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼/
𝐸)% = 𝑚%% 𝐸/ + = 𝑚%% 𝐸/ + 𝑚%& 𝛾/ 𝐸/ = (𝑚%% + 𝑚%& 𝛾/ )𝐸/
𝜂/
𝑚&& 𝜂) 𝐸/ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼/
𝜂) 𝐻)% = 𝑚&% 𝐸/ + = 𝑚&% 𝐸/ + 𝑚&& 𝛾/ 𝐸/ = (𝑚&% +𝑚&& 𝛾/ )𝐸/
𝜂/

Inverse of Eqns (2) in the previous slide:

% -%& :!# % -!:!#
𝐸)% = 𝐸1) + 𝐸*) 𝐸1) = 𝐸)% + = 𝐸)% +
& ;90<! & =%&
% -%& :!# % -!:!#
𝐻)% = (𝐸1) −𝐸*) )𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼) /𝜂1. 𝐸*) = & 𝐸)% − ;90<!
= & 𝐸)% − =%&

Finally, we can derive the transmission and reflectance:

1 𝑚&% + 𝑚&& 𝛾/ 2𝛾1.

𝐸1) = 𝑚%% + 𝑚%& 𝛾/ + 𝐸/ 𝑡=
2 𝛾1. 𝑚%% 𝛾1. + 𝑚%& 𝛾1. 𝛾/ + 𝑚&% + 𝑚&& 𝛾/

1 𝑚&% + 𝑚&& 𝛾/ 𝑚%% 𝛾1. + 𝑚%& 𝛾1. 𝛾/ − 𝑚&% − 𝑚&& 𝛾/

𝐸*) = 𝑚%% + 𝑚%& 𝛾/ − 𝐸/ 𝑟=
2 𝛾1. 𝑚%% 𝛾1. + 𝑚%& 𝛾1. 𝛾/ + 𝑚&% + 𝑚&& 𝛾/
Summary of Transfer Matrix method
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿6 −𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿6 /𝛾6
𝑀6 =
−𝑖𝛾6 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿6 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿6

𝑚%% 𝑚%&
𝑀/9/ = 𝑀% 𝑀& … 𝑀8 = 𝑚 𝑚&&
&%

2𝛾1.
𝑡=
𝑚%% 𝛾1. + 𝑚%& 𝛾1. 𝛾/ + 𝑚&% + 𝑚&& 𝛾/

𝑚%% 𝛾1. + 𝑚%& 𝛾1. 𝛾/ − 𝑚&% − 𝑚&& 𝛾/

𝑟=
𝑚%% 𝛾1. + 𝑚%& 𝛾1. 𝛾/ + 𝑚&% + 𝑚&& 𝛾/

.' 2'$ 2'$

𝛿6 ≡ 𝑘6! 𝑑6 𝛾6 ≡ 𝑛6 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼6 = = for TE polarization
2' 2!

.' .' 2 ' .'(2!

𝛾6 ≡ ;90< = 2'$
= 2'$
for TM polarization
'