Zero-index Metamaterials for Classical and Quantum Light

Zero-index metamaterials (photonic materials and artificial media with a near-zero refractive index in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum) make possible novel forms of light-matter interactions where light behaves in a qualitatively different way. There has been an upsurge of exciting discoveries of exotic wave phenomena in these materials, leveraging the impact of their near-zero refractive index on several photonic technologies, including nonlinear optics, thermal emitters, reconfigurable optical devices, integrated photonics, and quantum technologies. Interest in zero-index metamaterials has exploded during the last years, bridging nanophotonics, electrical engineering, material science, nanofabrication, and quantum physics.

Guest Editors: Nader Engheta, Inigo Liberal, and Andrea Alù