Mimicking celestial mechanics in metamaterials

被引:303
作者
Genov, Dentcho A. [1 ,2 ]
Zhang, Shuang [1 ]
Zhang, Xiang [1 ,3 ]
机构
[1] Univ Calif Berkeley, NSF Nanoscale Sci & Engn Ctr, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
[2] Louisiana Tech Univ, Coll Engn & Sci, Ruston, LA 71272 USA
[3] Univ Calif Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley Lab, Div Mat Sci, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
关键词
MOVING-MEDIA; LIGHT; INDEX;
D O I
10.1038/NPHYS1338
中图分类号
O4 [物理学];
学科分类号
0702 ;
摘要
Einstein's general theory of relativity establishes equality between matter-energy density and the curvature of spacetime. As a result, light and matter follow natural paths in the inherent spacetime and may experience bending and trapping in a specific region of space. So far, the interaction of light and matter with curved spacetime has been predominantly studied theoretically and through astronomical observations. Here, we propose to link the newly emerged field of artificial optical materials to that of celestial mechanics, thus opening the way to investigate light phenomena reminiscent of orbital motion, strange attractors and chaos, in a controlled laboratory environment. The optical-mechanical analogy enables direct studies of critical light/matter behaviour around massive celestial bodies and, on the other hand, points towards the design of novel optical cavities and photon traps for application in microscopic devices and lasers systems.
引用
收藏
页码:687 / 692
页数:6
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