Transformation optics and metamaterials

We review recent progress in developing a new class of specially designed optical metamaterial spaces with functionalities that cannot be obtained with conventional optics or natural materials. These optical metamaterial spaces could enable innovative paradigms of transformation optics pertinent to optical cloaking, sub-wavelength sensing, super-resolution imaging, magnifying hyperlenses, and light-concentrating devices. We also outline our recent development and deployment of an easy-to-use, multifaceted, on-line research environment for the nanophotonics research community. In particular, we show representative examples of two online software tools addressing a growing need for efficient numerical simulations in the area of transformation optics.