Single-negative, double-negative, and low-index metamaterials and their electromagnetic applications

Metamaterials that are engineered media characterized by electromagnetic constitutive parameters with anomalous values may show counterintuitive properties in their interactions with electromagnetic waves. Here, we review some of the properties and potential applications we have recently presented in the technical literature: properties and applications in which plasmonic materials and metamaterials may be utilized to overcome some conventional physical limits. Resonances arising in electrically small regions of interface where these materials are paired with common materials are shown to be potentially attractive for this purpose in some electromagnetic problems, for instance, in guiding and radiating structures. The anomalous refractive properties at such "complementary" interfaces and the negative values of polarizability attainable in such materials are also shown to offer potentials for several applications.