BSc Dissertation: Negative Index of Refraction
Victor Veselago brought about current thinking about the consequences of both the permeability and permittivity of a material being less than zero in 1968, long before it was practically realised. Since then scientists and engineers have worked hard to bring the Russian scientist’s ideas to non-theoretical use.
Most notably in the field, David Smith and John Pendry have begun work in bringing about the reality of a ‘perfect’ lens.
This report aims to give the reader an idea of the theories behind the concept and of the work conducted by scientists and engineers in the latter half of the last century and the beginnings of this, on the realisation of these, specifically focusing on the perfect lens.