I always wondered about the physics behind the types of meta-materials described in science fiction such as Neal Stephenson's Anathem, but could never imagine a

I always wondered about the physics behind the types of meta-materials described in science fiction such as Neal Stephenson's Anathem, but could never imagine a feasible mechanism. According to this article, turns out the mechanism is the manipulation of the electron clouds in atoms and molecules using precisely calibrated laser pulses.