Split-ring resonator creating a photonic metamaterial

A method to form a split-ring resonator, comprising:

• forming an inner trench or cavity into a substrate, the inner trench or cavity comprising a split;
• forming an outer trench or cavity into the substrate around the inner trench or cavity, the outer trench or cavity comprising another split disposed at an opposite end of the split in the inner trench or cavity;
• and
• emitting an electrically conductive gas and/or plasma into the inner trench or cavity and the outer trench or cavity to form a split-ring resonator, and
• the inner trench or cavity has a radius of 40 nm or less.

A transmitting device, comprising:

• an energy source;
• a split-ring resonator unit comprising a plurality of split-ring resonators, wherein each of the split-ring resonators comprises:
• a substrate,
• an inner trench or cavity formed into the substrate, the inner trench or cavity comprising a split, and
• an outer trench or cavity formed into the substrate around the inner trench or cavity, the outer trench or cavity comprising another split disposed at an opposite end of the split in the inner trench or cavity,
• wherein the inner trench or cavity and the outer trench or cavity are configured to receive an electrically conductive gas and/or plasma to form the split-ring resonator;
• and
• an ionized gas or plasma unit to transmit the ionized gas or plasma into the split-ring resonators in the split-ring resonator unit,
• wherein the energy source transmits light through the split-ring resonator unit, and the split-ring resonator unit is configured so that the light passing through is refracted according to a negative refractive index, and
• the inner trench or cavity has a radius of 40 nm or less.