Indefinite permittivity and negative refraction in natural material: Graphite

In this work, we report a nature indefinite permittivity in crystalline graphite that exhibits negative group refraction at ultraviolet region. A hyperbolic equifrequency contour was obtained from ellipsometry data at 254 nm and an all angle negative refraction was verified experimentally. The indefinite permittivity is attributed to extremely strong anisotropy in the crystal structure and the hybrid electronic transitions. This result not only explores a route toward natural negative-index materials, but also holds a promise for ultraviolet hyperlens, which may lead to a breakthrough in nanolithography for the next generation of electronics.