Comparison of negative refractive index materials with circular, elliptical and rectangular holes.

Negative-index metamaterials (NIMs) at near infrared wavelengths (~2 mum) are fabricated with circular, elliptical and rectangular holes penetrating through metal/dielectric/metal films. All three NIM structures exhibit similar figures of merit; however, the transmission is higher for the NIM with rectangular holes as a result of an improved impedance match with the substrate-superstrate (air-glass) combination.