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arXiv · 2506.21359

Primordial Metamaterials

A. Ware·J. LaMountain·R. C. White·S. R. Bank·E. Narimanov·D. Wasserman·V. A. Podolskiy
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Abstract

The electromagnetic response of materials serves as the foundation for a broad range of vital applications, including but not limited to imaging, sensing, as well as classical and quantum communications. Here we demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, a fundamentally new regime of electromagnetic material response originating from inherent material nonlocality, leading to effective ``spooky action at a distance''. We show that by structuring materials on the scale of their inherent nonlocality, it becomes possible to reveal the ``primordial'' nonlocal response of the components and design materials with strong overall nonlocality, easily detectable at room temperatures and in realistic (lossy) materials. Designer primordial nonlocality offers a new dimension in controlling light-matter interactions.

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A. Ware, J. LaMountain, R. C. White, S. R. Bank, E. Narimanov, D. Wasserman, V. A. Podolskiy. 2025-06-26. Primordial Metamaterials. https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.21359

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