A very compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer with left-handed material

► A compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with left-handed material is proposed. ► The proposed MZI is analyzed by supermode theory and coupled mode theory. ► The very compact MZI of only 0.87 mm × 0.022 mm can be achieved. ► The absorption effect of the proposed MZI is analyzed by perturbation method.