Rolled-up three-dimensional metamaterials with a tunable plasma frequency in the visible regime

We propose and realize a novel concept of a self-organized three-dimensional metamaterial with a plasma frequency in the visible regime. We utilize the concept of self-rolling strained layers to roll up InGaAs/GaAs/Ag multilayers with multiple rotations. The walls of the resulting tubes represent a radial superlattice with a tunable layer thickness ratio and lattice constant. We show that the plasma frequency of the radial superlattice can be tuned over a broad range in the visible and near infrared by changing the layer thickness ratio in good agreement with an effective metamaterial description. Finite difference time domain simulations reveal that the rolled-up radial superlattices can be used as hyperlenses in the visible.