Possible molecular bottom-up approach to optical metamaterials

摘要

We investigate the possibility of a molecular bottom-up approach to the construction of the basic element for optical negative index metamaterials. Undoped and doped graphene-based molecules, including nanotubes, are considered. We employ first-principles and tight-binding electronic structure methods to determine the energy levels and the stability of the molecules. Under certain assumptions, we simulate the electromagnetic response of the molecules by a corresponding network of perfect wires. The nanotubes exhibit a resonant response at the soft x-ray range.