Theoretical models for ultrashort electromagnetic pulse propagation in nonlinear metamaterials

Journal Article · Thu Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.75.033815· OSTI ID:20982406

Wen, Shuangchun; Xiang, Yuanjiang; Dai, Xiaoyu; Tang, Zhixiang; Su, Wenhua; Fan, Dianyuan ^[1]

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1. Research Center of Laser Science and Engineering and School of Computer and Communication, Hunan University, Changsha 410082 (China)

A metamaterial (MM) differs from an ordinary optical material mainly in that it has a dispersive magnetic permeability and offers greatly enhanced design freedom to alter the linear and nonlinear properties. This makes it possible for us to control the propagation of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses at will. Here we report on generic features of ultrashort electromagnetic pulse propagation and demonstrate the controllability of both the linear and nonlinear parameters of models for pulse propagation in MMs. First, we derive a generalized system of coupled three-dimensional nonlinear Schroedinger equations (NLSEs) suitable for few-cycle pulse propagation in a MM with both nonlinear electric polarization and nonlinear magnetization. The coupled equations recover previous models for pulse propagation in both ordinary material and a MM under the same conditions. Second, by using the coupled NLSEs in the Drude dispersive model as an example, we identify the respective roles of the dispersive electric permittivity and magnetic permeability in ultrashort pulse propagation and disclose some additional features of pulse propagation in MMs. It is shown that, for linear propagation, the sign and magnitude of space-time focusing can be controlled through adjusting the linear dispersive permittivity and permeability. For nonlinear propagation, the linear dispersive permittivity and permeability are incorporated into the nonlinear magnetization and nonlinear polarization, respectively, resulting in controllable magnetic and electric self-steepening effects and higher-order dispersively nonlinear terms in the propagation models.

• OSTI ID: 20982406
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 75, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.75.033815; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES
FOCUSING
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
MAGNETIZATION
METHYL METHANESULFONATE
NONLINEAR OPTICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PERMEABILITY
PERMITTIVITY
POLARIZATION
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
SPACE-TIME
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION