Publication:
Direct observation of ideal electromagnetic fluids

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Date

2022

Authors

Li, Hao
Zhou, Ziheng
Sun, Wangyu
Lobet, Michaël
Engheta, Nader
Li, Yue

Director

Publisher

Springer Nature
Acceso abierto / Sarbide irekia
Artículo / Artikulua
Versión publicada / Argitaratu den bertsioa

Project identifier

AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020/RTI2018-093714-J-I00/ES/recolecta

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. © 2022, The Author(s).

Keywords

Ideal electromagnetic fluid, Near-zer-index (NZI) media

Department

Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren / Institute of Smart Cities - ISC / Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación

Faculty/School

Degree

Doctorate program

Editor version

Funding entities

Y.L. acknowledges partial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under grant 62022045. I.L. acknowledges support from Ramón y Cajal fellowship RYC2018-024123-I and project RTI2018-093714-301J-I00 sponsored by MCIU/AEI/FEDER/UE and ERC Starting Grant 948504.

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