1201.5348 (Igor I. Smolyaninov et al.)

Collision of "metamaterial universes": experimental realization of
Minkowski domain wall    [PDF]

Igor I. Smolyaninov, Yu-Ju Hung

Minkowski domain walls are being actively considered in gravitation theory.
They may form during a vacuum phase transition, or as a result of braneworld
collision. Despite having interesting physical properties, Minkowski domain
walls had remained in the theoretical domain only since their first
introduction a few decades ago. Here we report the first experimental
realization of a Minkowski domain wall in a three dimensional effective
Minkowski spacetime, which is experienced by extraordinary photons in
hyperbolic metamaterials. We analyze electromagnetic field behavior at the
wall, and present a simple experimental model of Minkowski domain wall
formation due to "collision" of two "metamaterial universes".

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.5348