We demonstrate that use of the field effect enables tuning of the effective optical parameters of a layered hyperbolic metamaterial at optical frequencies. Field-effect gating electrically modulates the permittivity in transparent conductive oxides via changes in the carrier density. These permittivity changes lead to active modulation of the effective electromagnetic parameters along with active control of the anisotropic dispersion surface of hyperbolic metamaterials and enable the opening and closing of photonic band gaps. Tunability of the effective electric permittivity and magnetic permeability also leads to topological transitions in the optical dispersion characteristics.

• Received 14 April 2015
• Revised 27 August 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.184101