(1) J. B. Pendry
Imperial College, United Kingdom.

Title: Metamaterials, Transformation Optics, and Losses

Abstract:

Metamaterials have generated a great deal of enthusiasm partly because they have lifted restrictions imposed by the limited palette of properties available in nature. As a result we can now start to deploy a powerful design algorithm, transformation optics, that allows almost total control over electromagnetic fields, provided that we can design suitable metamaterials. On example of such an application is a cloak which hides a given volume of space from the outside world whilst itself remaining invisible. However this is only one of many potential applications. Transformation optics can for example be applied to designing structures that strongly enhance non linear effects. Finally I shall address the question of metamaterials with a negative refractive index and ask whether losses are inevitable in such systems or whether, given suitable constituent materials, it is possible to strive for systems with arbitrarily small losses.