Waveguides incorporating novel metamaterials and associated methods of manufacture
View Patent ↗A hollow-core waveguide structure for guiding an electromagnetic signal, comprising: a core material comprising a predetermined refractive index; and a cladding structure disposed about the core material, wherein the cladding structure has a refractive index that is less than unity; wherein the cladding structure comprises an Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterial. The core material comprises air or the like. The cladding structure comprises one of substantially planar sheets disposed about the core material and a substantially tubular structure disposed about the core material. Optionally, the ENZ metamaterial comprises a plurality of nanostructures disposed in a host medium. The plurality of nanostructures comprise a transparent conducting oxide. Alternatively, the cladding structure is manufactured via a self-assembly method.
1. A hollow-core waveguide structure for guiding an electromagnetic signal, comprising:
a core material comprising a predetermined refractive index; and
a cladding structure disposed about the core material, wherein the cladding structure has a refractive index that is less than unity;
wherein the cladding structure comprises an Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterial.
2. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises air.
3. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined refractive index is equal to or greater than unity.
4. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the cladding structure comprises one of substantially planar sheets disposed about the core material and a substantially tubular structure disposed about the core material.
5. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of TCO nanostructures are coated with an organic ligand that forms at least a portion of the host medium.
6. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of TCO nanostructures are disposed in the host medium in one of a matrix and a random pattern.
7. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of TCO nanostructures comprise aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), germanium zinc oxide (GZO), another doped zinc oxide, or a doped nitride oxide.
8. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the host medium comprises a binder material.
9. The hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 1 , wherein the cladding structure is manufactured via a self-assembly method.
10. A method for providing a hollow-core waveguide structure for guiding an electromagnetic signal, comprising:
providing a core material comprising a predetermined refractive index; and
providing a cladding structure disposed about the core material, wherein the cladding structure has a refractive index that is less than unity;
wherein the cladding structure comprises an Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterial providing a predetermined plasmonic response and wherein the ENZ metamaterial comprises a plurality of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) nanostructures disposed in a host medium with an average spacing less than an average diameter of the plurality of TCO nanostructures.
11. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the core material comprises air.
12. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined refractive index is equal to or greater than unity.
13. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the cladding structure comprises one of substantially planar sheets disposed about the core material and a substantially tubular structure disposed about the core material.
14. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of TCO nanostructures are coated with an organic ligand that forms at least a portion of the host medium.
15. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of TCO nanostructures are disposed in the host medium in one of a matrix and a random pattern.
16. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of TCO nanostructures comprise aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), germanium zinc oxide (GZO), another doped zinc oxide, or a doped nitride oxide.
17. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the host medium comprises a binder material.
18. The method for providing the hollow-core waveguide structure of claim 10 , wherein the cladding structure is manufactured via a self-assembly method.