Enhancing photon tunnelling by a slab of uniaxially anisotropic left-handed material

We study the unusual enhancement of photon tunnelling by a slab of uniaxially anisotropic negative refractive index material, also known as left-handed material (LHM). It is found that the uniaxially anisotropic LHMs can greatly enhance the photon tunnelling for transverse electric (TE), transverse magnetic (TM), as well as both TM and TE waves when different conditions are satisfied. The phenomenon is believed due to the amplification of evanescent waves by the LHMs. It is expected to find applications in devices that utilize photon tunnelling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]