Coherent nonlinear optics and quantum control in negative-index metamaterials

The extraordinary properties of laser-induced transparency of a negative-index slab and parametric amplification for a backward-wave signal are investigated. The effects of the idler absorption and phase mismatch on the amplification of the signal are studied, and the feasibility of ensuring robust transparency for a broad range of control field intensities and slab thicknesses is shown. A particular option consisting of the independent engineering of a strong four-wave mixing response and the negative refractive index is proposed and its specific features are investigated. The feasibility of quantum control over the slab transparency in such a scheme is confirmed through numerical experiments. We thus show opportunities and conditions for the compensation of the strong absorption inherent to plasmonic negative-index metamaterials, and we further show achievable transparency through coherent energy transfer from the control optical field to the negative-index signal. PACS numbers: 78.67.-n, 42.50.Gy, 42.65.Yj