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Funneling Spontaneous Emission into Waveguides via Epsilon-Near-Zero Metamaterials
M Channab1,2, C F Pirri1, A Angelini2
1Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials efficiently couple light into waveguides by enhancing and directing emission. This method achieves a net increase in waveguide light intensity under feasible conditions.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Metamaterials
- Integrated Optics
Background:
- Efficient light coupling into waveguides is crucial for integrated optical technologies.
- Existing methods often face limitations in outcoupling efficiency and emission rate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials for efficient light coupling into in-plane waveguides.
- To optimize light injection by exploiting ENZ-enhanced and directional emission properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing ENZ metamaterials with tunable metal fill factors.
- Analyzing the enhanced and directional light emission from a dipolar source.
- Simulating and quantifying light intensity coupled into an in-plane waveguide.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated efficient light coupling from a dipolar source to an in-plane waveguide using ENZ metamaterials.
- Achieved a net increase in waveguide-injected light intensity relative to total radiated power.
- Showcased feasibility under experimentally accessible conditions.
Conclusions:
- ENZ metamaterials offer a promising approach for enhancing light injection into waveguides.
- The proposed system can overcome limitations in outcoupling efficiency and emission rate.
- Opens new avenues for optical applications and integrated photonic technologies.
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