Modulation of negative index metamaterials in the near-IR range

Optical modulation of the effective refractive properties of a fishnet metamaterial with a Ag/Si/Ag heterostructure is demonstrated in the near-IR range and the associated fast dynamics of negative refractive index is studied by pump-probe method. Photoexcitation of the amorphous Si layer at visible wavelength and corresponding modification of its optical parameters is found to be responsible for the observed modulation of negative refractive index in near-IR. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.