Band structure and broadband compensation of absorption by amplification in layered optical metamaterials

The frequency dependence of the gain required to compensate for absorption is determined for a layered structure consisting of alternating absorbing and amplifying layers. It is shown that the fulfillment of the same conditions is required for the existence of a band structure consisting of alternating bands allowed and forbidden for optical radiation propagation in the frequency-wave vector parametric region. Conditions are found under which the gain required for compensation is smaller than thresholds for absolute (parasitic lasing) and convective (waveguide amplification of radiation) instabilities.