Applications of Epsilon-Near-Zero (ENZ) Materials to Quantum Systems

The application of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials to photonic devices has resulted in a wealth of fascinating phenomena such as electromagnetic supercoupling, resonance pinning, perfect optical absorption, and ultrafast optical switching. However, the effect of ENZ materials on quantum fluctuations is much less developed. Here, we will present out recent work on use of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials to engineer quantum effects and discuss how they can be applied to various technologies. Specifically, we show how ENZ materials can be used to control the spontaneous emission rate of quantum emitters and present the concept of electromagnetic bandgaps for nanoparticles comprising an ENZ material. Further, we will show how tunable ENZ materials can be used to convert electrical bias into mechanical motion through the modification of the allowed modes within a cavity composed of an ENZ material. Finally, we will discuss the outlook for using the concepts in future device architectures.