Light in materials with periodic gain-loss modulation on a wavelength scale

Abstract

We analyze light-wave dynamics in artificial materials characterized by periodically modulated gain or loss on the wavelength scale. The study of the temporal dispersion in one-dimensionally modulated materials predicts mode-locked states and superluminal light propagation regimes in the parameter regions close to the locking regions. The study of spatial dispersion for a two-dimensional gain-loss modulation predicts nontrivial beam propagation effects such as self-collimation, angle-sensitive gain, and negative diffraction in such gain-loss-modulated materials.