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    $\begingroup$ If the above question is too general, I'll rephrase it to make them more concrete... $\endgroup$
    – Newbie
    Commented Oct 19, 2015 at 18:18
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    $\begingroup$ Refractive index is only connected with so called phase velocity of light - there's no problem with it having as high value as you wish, it could be another question, but off-topic here. Also metamaterials are composites, so it's not that much about synthesis or simple mixing. $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    Commented Oct 19, 2015 at 18:38
  • $\begingroup$ As @Mithoron states, the phase velocity can exceed C, just as the imaginary closing point of scissors or the apparent motion of stellar jets can be superluminal. However, the group velocity (speed of information) is limited to C. BTW, metamaterials can slow light to the speed it has in Pratchett's Diskworld. $\endgroup$
    – DrMoishe Pippik
    Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 0:17
  • $\begingroup$ @DrMoishePippik Actually group velocity isn't the exactly same as speed of information transfer and in specific situations isn't constrained with c, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_velocity#In_lossy_or_gainful_media $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 0:26
  • $\begingroup$ @ Mithoron: I agree with you, but note that my question is more about how the refractive index is related to other physical and chemical properties (e.g. at least for liquids there is a correlation between the carbon residue and the refractivity), not so much how the "super-luminosity" is obtained. The later is a physical question, which is somewhat answered in the article withal. $\endgroup$
    – Newbie
    Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 11:26