Abstract
The possibility is shown and conditions are found for the realization of the type I or II epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials based on a multilayer metal-dielectric structure. It is found that, for both propagating and evanescent extraordinary waves, diffraction-free energy transportation occurs with low losses within narrow channels inside the type I ENZ metamaterial on the basis of such a structure. The research presents the possibility of forming the type II ENZ metamaterial inside the two kinds of propagating light waves for which the amplitude decays from the boundary and the phase fronts move away from and towards the boundary of the metamaterial, respectively. The interaction between Gaussian light beams and metamaterials with extremal characteristics is theoretically investigated. The prospect of the practical application of these media is considered.