Strong Purcell effect in anisotropic $\varepsilon$-near-zero metamaterials

Abstract

We theoretically demonstrate the strong Purcell effect in $\varepsilon$-near-zero ultra-anisotropic uniaxial metamaterials with elliptic isofrequency surface. Contrary to the hyperbolic metamaterials, the effect does not rely on the diverging density of states and evanescent waves. As a result, both the radiative decay rate and the far-field emission power are enhanced. The effect can be realized in the periodic layered metal-dielectric nanostructures with complex unit cell containing two different metallic layers.