  We review the properties of hyperbolic metamaterials and show that they are
promising candidates as substrates for nano-imaging, nano-sensing, fluorescence
engineering and for controlling thermal emission. Hyperbolic metamaterials can
support unique bulk modes, tunable surface plasmon polaritons as well as
surface hyperbolic states (Dyakonov plasmons) that can be used for a variety of
applications. We compare the effective medium predictions with practical
realizations of hyperbolic metamaterials to show their potential for radiative
decay engineering, bio-imaging, sub-surface sensing, meta-plasmonics and
super-Planckian thermal emission.
