Enhancing Optical Gradient Forces With Metamaterials

We demonstrate how the optical gradient force between two waveguides can be enhanced using transformation optics. A thin layer of double-negative or single-negative metamaterial can shrink the interwaveguide distance perceived by light, resulting in a more than tenfold enhancement of the optical force. This process is remarkably robust to the dissipative loss normally observed in metamaterials. Our results provide an alternative way to boost optical gradient forces in nanophotonic actuation systems and may be combined with existing resonator-based enhancement methods to produce optical forces with an unprecedented amplitude. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.057401