Open Access
Direct observation of ideal electromagnetic fluids
(Springer Nature, 2022) Li, Hao; Zhou, Ziheng; Sun, Wangyu; Lobet, Michaël; Engheta, Nader; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Li, Yue; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
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.
Open Access
Quantum antenna arrays: the role of quantum interference on direction-dependent photon statistics
(American Physical Society, 2018) Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Ziolkowski, Richard W.; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
We investigate the role of quantum interference phenomena on the characteristics of the fields radiated by an array of quantum emitters. In analogy to, but distinct from, classical outcomes, we demonstrate that the array geometry empowers control over direction-dependent photon statistics of arbitrary order. Our formulation enables the recognition of configurations providing spatial correlations with no classical counterpart. For example, we identify a system in which the angular distribution of the average number of photons is independent of the number and position of the emitters, while its higher-order photon statistics exhibit a directional behavior. These results extend our understanding of the fields generated by ensembles of quantum emitters, with potential applications to nonclassical light sources.
Open Access
Induction theorem analysis of resonant nanoparticles: design of a huygens source nanoparticle laser
(American Physical Society, 2014) Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Ziolkowski, Richard W.; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
We propose an advanced formulation of standard antenna theory for the basic investigation and design of resonant nanoparticles. This methodology is based on transforming the original scattering problem into a radiation configuration by invoking the induction theorem. Then applying basic antenna theory principles, such as the suppression of any reactive power, the properties of the resonances are engineered. This nanoantenna approach has been validated by revisiting a number of well-known multilayered core-shell structures. It provides additional important physical insights into how the core-shell structures operate and it enables combinations of different resonant phenomena associated with them, e.g., plasmonic and high-ϵ resonances, in an intuitive manner. Its efficacy is demonstrated by designing a multilayered nanoparticle that achieves lasing with a maximum directivity in the forward direction and a null in the backward direction, i.e., a Huygens source nanoparticle laser.
Restricted
Algorithm-driven design of conformal antenna arrays for Ultra-Wideband Direction-Of-Arrival estimation
(2009) Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Yarovoy, Alexander; Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales y de Telecomunicación; Telekomunikazio eta Industria Ingeniarien Goi Mailako Eskola Teknikoa; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
Open Access
Generalized approach to quantum interference in lossy N-port devices via a singular value decomposition
(Optica, 2022) Hernández Martínez, Osmery; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Modeling quantum interference in the presence of dissipation is a critical aspect of quantum technologies. Including dissipation into the model of a linear device enables for assessing the detrimental impact of photon loss, as well as for studying dissipation-driven quantum state transformations. However, establishing the input-output relations characterizing quantum interference at a general lossy N-port network poses important theoretical challenges. Here, we propose a general procedure based on the singular value decomposition (SVD), which allows for the efficient calculation of the input-output relations for any arbitrary lossy linear device. In addition, we show how the SVD provides an intuitive description of the principle of operation of linear optical devices. We illustrate the applicability of our method by evaluating the input-output relations of popular reciprocal and nonreciprocal lossy linear devices, including devices with singular and nilpotent scattering matrices. Our method also enables the analysis of quantum interference in large lossy networks, as we exemplify with the study of an N-port epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) hub. We expect that our procedure will motivate future research on quantum interference in complex devices, as well as the realistic modelling of photon loss in linear lossy devices.
Open Access
A multipolar analysis of near-field absorption and scattering processes
(IEEE, 2013) Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ederra Urzainqui, Íñigo; Gonzalo García, Ramón; Ziolkowski, Richard W.; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
A multipolar formulation is adopted to investigate the absorption and scattering processes involved in near-field interactions. This approach allows one to determine the upper bounds for the absorbed and radiated powers that would be achieved by an ideal lossless sensor, which are of particular interest, for example, to wireless power transfer (WPT), wireless sensors and near-field coupled radiators. The multipolar formulation also helps to extricate the fundamental compromises that must be addressed in the design of such systems, as well as to identify strategies that could approach their best possible performances. The general theory is illustrated with an example consisting of a coated sensor illuminated by a Hertzian dipole, which is a representative example of any scattering or radiating system based on small resonators. The example also serves to compare the performance characteristics obtained with different phenomena such as multipolar resonances, phaseinduced interference effects and cloaking.
Open Access
Spatiotemporal symmetries and energy-momentum conservation in uniform spacetime metamaterials
(American Chemical Society, 2024-11-13) Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ganfornina Andrades, Antonio; Vázquez Lozano, Juan Enrique; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Spacetime metamaterials are opening new regimes of light-matter interactions based on the breaking of temporal and spatial symmetries, as well as intriguing concepts associated with synthetic motion. In this work, we investigate the continuous spatiotemporal translation symmetry of spacetime metamaterials with uniform modulation velocity. Using Noether's theorem, we demonstrate that such symmetry entails the conservation of the energy momentum. We highlight how energy-momentum conservation imposes constraints on the range of allowed light-matter interactions within spacetime metamaterials, as illustrated with examples of the collision of electromagnetic and modulation pulses. Furthermore, we discuss the similarities and differences between the conservation of energy-momentum and relativistic effects. We believe that our work provides a step forward in clarifying the fundamental theory underlying spacetime metamaterials.
Open Access
Spectrally stable thermal emitters enabled by material-based high-impedance surfaces
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023) Navajas Hernández, David; Pérez Escudero, José Manuel; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Radiative thermal engineering with subwavelength metallic bodies is a key element for heat and energy management applications, communication and sensing. Here, we numerically and experimentally demonstrate metallic thermal emitters with narrowband but extremely stable emission spectra, whose resonant frequency does not shift with changes on the nanofilm thickness, the angle of observation and/or polarization. Our devices are based on epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) substrates acting as material-based high-impedance substrates. They do not require from complex nanofabrication processes, thus being compatible with large-area and low-cost applications.
Open Access
Exploring surface roughness in epsilon-near-zero materials
(IEEE, 2024-10-08) Navajas Hernández, David; Pérez Escudero, José Manuel; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
The practical application of materials with epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) characteristics heavily depends on the quality of real-world ENZ materials, considering factors like material losses and surface roughness. These materials have drawn interest due to their strong nonlinear responses and unique behavior. In this study, an experimental examination of how surface roughness affects ENZ substrates is presented. We employed silicon carbide (SiC) substrates deliberately engineered to exhibit different levels of roughness, enabling us to analyze samples spanning from a few to hundreds of nanometers in size scales. Substrates with nanoscale roughness experience adverse effects due to longitudinal phonon coupling and strong ENZ fields, while at larger roughness scales, the ENZ band demonstrates to be more robust compared to dielectric and surface phonon polariton (SPhP) bands.
Open Access
Soft surfaces and enhanced nonlinearity enabled via epsilon-near-zero media doped with zero-area perfect electric conductor inclusions
(Optical Society of America, 2020) Nahvi, Ehsan; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Engheta, Nader; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Introducing a dielectric inclusion inside an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) host has been shown to dramatically affect the effective permeability of the host for a TM-polarized incident wave, a concept coined as photonic doping [Science 355, 1058 (2017)]. Here, we theoretically study the prospect of doping the ENZ host with infinitesimally thin perfect electric conductor (PEC) inclusions, which we call 'zero-area' PEC dopants. First, we theoretically demonstrate that zero-area PEC dopants enable the design of soft surfaces with an arbitrary cross-sectional geometry. Second, we illustrate the possibility of engineering the PEC dopants with the goal of transforming the electric field distribution inside the ENZ while maintaining a spatially invariant magnetic field. We exploit this property to enhance the effective nonlinearity of the ENZ host.