[Atmob-discuss] Refraction of light

[Glenn M]

No, refractive index appears to be negative.  Also, the material behaves as
if it's *dielectric constant* is negative.  Other names, besides
metamaterial have been used - "left-handed material" (because EM propagation
in the material appears to follow a "left hand rule" rather than the
conventional right-hand rule), "negative dielectric constant" and "negative
refractive index".  A google on any of these will turn up a wealth of
information and all manner of applications, real and potential.

These materials/structures have been known for a while (since 1940s or 50s
and modern antenna theory), are of interest to antenna designers (antennas
are but lenses!) but have up until this reporting been made of lumped
elements and/or physical structures and are large compared to wavelength
they interact with.  This reported work is the first time someone has made a
metamaterial out of semiconductor material, which holds promise of
miniaturization and imbedding of other circuits within the metamaterial.

For some additional light, easily understood reading on the matter ;)

http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~shvetsgr/lens.html
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/RT/2003/5000/5620wilson.html (pictures of lumped
element metamaterial)

And wikipedia seems to be a good source on this as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamaterial (with many links to research
groups working in this area)

...gm

> -----Original Message-----
> From: atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org 
> [mailto:atmob-discuss-bounces at atmob.org] On Behalf Of Michael Aramini
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 11:32 PM
> To: atmob-discuss at atmob.org
> Subject: Re: [Atmob-discuss] Refraction of light
> 
> 
> I think they mean that the index of refraction is less than 
> 1, *NOT* negative.
> 
> -Michael
> 
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