Near-Zero-Refractive-Index Structure at Optical Frequencies

We have used a new class of left-handed materials, which uses 3D nanospheres distributed in loops in the dielectric host material. These 3D nanospheres loops give rise to negative effective permeability and permeability at Terahertz (optical) frequencies. The modal dispersion relation for Terahertz TE surface waves has been derived for a slab waveguide constructed from a dielectric material slab sandwiched between two thick layers of Terahertz left-handed material (LHM). The modal dispersion relation and the power flow were numerically solved for a given set of parameters: dielectric slab thickness, the operating frequency, mode order, and the power flow and extinction in the structure. The real part of the effective refractive index exhibits near-zero values, with small extinction coefficient values. Besides that, the power flow in the dielectric core increased with slab thickness increase and the power attenuation decreased with thickness increase