The field of metamaterials has produced structures with
unprecedented abilities, including flat lenses, invisibility cloaks and even
optical “metatronic” devices that can manipulate light in the way electronic
circuitry manipulates the flow of electrons.
Now, the birthplace of the digital computer, ENIAC, is using
this technology in the rebirth of analog computing. A study by researchers at
the University of Pennsylvania, The University of Texas at Austin and
University of Sannio in Italy, shows that metamaterials can be designed to do
“photonic calculus” as a light wave goes through them.