114 research outputs found
Metamaterial model of tachyonic dark energy
Dark energy with negative pressure and positive energy density is believed to
be responsible for the accelerated expansion of the universe. Quite a few
theoretical models of dark energy are based on tachyonic fields interacting
with itself and normal (bradyonic) matter. Here we propose an experimental
model of tachyonic dark energy based on hyperbolic metamaterials. Wave equation
describing propagation of extraordinary light inside hyperbolic metamaterials
exhibits 2+1 dimensional Lorentz symmetry. The role of time in the
corresponding effective 3D Minkowski spacetime is played by the spatial
coordinate aligned with the optical axis of the metamaterial. Nonlinear optical
Kerr effect bends this spacetime resulting in effective gravitational force
between extraordinary photons. We demonstrate that this model has a
self-interacting tachyonic sector having negative effective pressure and
positive effective energy density. Moreover, a composite multilayer SiC-Si
hyperbolic metamaterial exhibits closely separated tachyonic and bradyonic
sectors in the long wavelength infrared range. This system may be used as a
laboratory model of inflation and late time acceleration of the universe.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. This version is accepted for publication in the
special issue of Galaxies: Beyond Standard Gravity and Cosmolog
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