Modeling of time with metamaterials

Metamaterials have already been used to model various exotic optical spaces. Here we demonstrate that mapping of monochromatic extraordinary light distribution in a hyperbolic metamaterial along some spatial direction may model the flow of time. This idea is illustrated in experiments performed with plasmonic hyperbolic metamaterials. The appearance of the statistical arrow of time is examined in an experimental scenario that emulates a big-bang-like event. (c) 2011 Optical Society of America