Gain-enhanced hyperbolic metamaterials at telecommunication frequencies (Presentation Recording)

Using effective medium theory (EMT), Bloch’s theorem (BT), and the transfer matrix method (TMM), we analyze the possibility of gain-enhanced transmission in metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion at telecommunication frequencies. We compare different combinations of dissipative metals and active dielectrics, including noble metals, transparent conducting oxides (TCO), III-V compounds, and solid-state dopants. We find that both indium gallium arsenide phosphide (InGaAsP) and erbium-doped silica (Er:SiO2), when combined with silver, show promise as a platform for demonstration of pump-dependent transmission. On the other hand, when these active dielectrics are combined with aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), a low-loss TCO, gain-enhanced transmission is negligible. Results based on EMT are compared to the more accurate BT and TMM. When losses are ignored, quantitative agreement between these analytical techniques is observed near the center of the first Brillouin zone of a one-dimensional periodic structure. Including realistic levels of loss and gain, however, EMT predictions become overly optimistic compared to BT and TMM. We also discuss the limitations to assumptions inherent to EMT, BT, and TMM, and suggest avenues for future analysis.