Flexible zero refractive index optical metamaterial with matched impedance

We demonstrate a flexible thin film zero refractive index optical metamaterial with matched impedance to free space and low absorption loss at 1.55 μm. The metallo-dielectric multilayer structure with fishnet geometry was optimized by a genetic algorithm. The fabrication process and characterization approach are described. The experiment results agree well with the theoretical predictions, showing an effective index of neff = 0.072 + 0.51i and an impedance of Zeff/Z0 = 1.009 – 0.021i.

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