Inhomogenous dielectric metamaterials with space-variant polarizability

We experimentally demonstrate for the first time the focusing of optical beams within an inhomogeneous dielectric metamaterial with space-variant polarizability, implemented by etching subwavelength structures into a Silicon slab. Light focusing is obtained by creating an artificial slab material with graded refractive index profile. The local refractive index within the slab is modulated by controlling the duty cycle of the subwavelength structures. The demonstrated metamaterial based component can be integrated with various other building blocks towards the realization of devices and systems in free space optics on a chip configuration.