A wide band left handed material with high transmission

In this study, we propose guidelines to optimize the transmission and bandwidth of left handed materials (LHM) composed of two-dimensional lattice of metallic wires interleaved with double split ring resonators (SRRs). Several LHM structures are fabricated to test the proposed rules of design and operate between 7 and 14 GHz. In a first step, we show that adding extra SRR layers within each period of wire layers (i.e. interleaving the wire lattice with several SRR lattices) increases the transmittance of the material. In a second step, we demonstrate that adding extra SRR layers in a non-equidistant manner (i.e. inserting several SRR lattices shifted one another by different distances) widens the LHM frequency bandwidth. The results of experimental characterization are found to be in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. A LHM behavior is obtained in a wide frequency band of 1 GHz around 8.2 GHz with a transmission of −1.2 dB measured at resonance. The negative refraction of the material is verified from measurements at oblique incidence.     

Left-handed metamaterial based superlens for subwavelength imaging of electromagnetic waves

Lenses made of negative index materials have the ability to focus the propagating and evanescent components of electromagnetic waves. Such a possibility enables super resolution, in turn resulting in sharper, subwavelength size images. In this present work, we present subwavelength imaging that was obtained from a one-dimensional left-handed metamaterial (LHM) composed of alternating layers of split-ring resonators and thin wires. We investigated the effect of the thickness of LHM lenses on image size. The left-handed pass band within the negative permittivity and permeability region is shown experimentally and theoretically for different thicknesses of LHM slabs. We also studied the transmission-phase of LHMs with a different number of unit cells along the propagation direction. The phase decreases with the increasing thicknesses of LHM slabs, proving that the phase velocity is negative in the left-handed transmission band. PACS 42.25.-p; 41.20.Jb; 81.05.-t     

三层不对称人工电磁材料界面处表面等离子体激元的理论研究

从P和S偏振出发.研究了由常规材料/左手材料/负介电常数材料、及常规材料/左手材料/负磁导率材料这两种三层不对称结构界面上表面等离子体激元(Surface plasmon polaritons,SPPs)的存在区域、色散曲线及其激发.观察到表面等离子体激元的性质强烈地依赖于人工电磁材料的组成参量,例如介质板的厚度和等离子体的频率.最后,使用衰减全反射(Attenuated total reflection,ATR)技术,探究了激发和观察表面等离子体激元的可能性.并针对P和s偏振两种情况计算了衰减全反射光谱.     

Optimal synthesis of 2D phononic crystals for broadband frequency isolation

The spatial distribution of material phases within a periodic composite can be engineered to produce band gaps in its frequency spectrum. Applications for such composite materials include vibration and sound isolation. Previous research focused on utilizing topology optimization techniques to design two-dimensional (2D) periodic materials with a maximized band gap around a particular frequency or between two particular dispersion branches. While sizable band gaps can be realized, the possibility remains that the frequency bandwidth of the load that is to be isolated might exceed the size of the band gap. In this paper, genetic algorithms are used to design squared bi-material unit cells with a maximized sum of band-gap widths, with or without normalization relative to the central frequency of each band gap, over a prescribed total frequency range of interest. The optimized unit cells therefore exhibit broadband frequency isolation characteristics. The effects of the ratios of contrasting material properties are also studied. The designed cells are subsequently used, with varying levels of material damping, to form a finite vibration isolation structure, which is subjected to broadband loading conditions. Excellent isolation properties of the synthesized material are demonstrated for this structure.     

Optimal synthesis of 2D phononic crystals for broadband frequency isolation

The spatial distribution of material phases within a periodic composite can be engineered to produce band gaps in its frequency spectrum. Applications for such composite materials include vibration and sound isolation. Previous research focused on utilizing topology optimization techniques to design two-dimensional (2D) periodic materials with a maximized band gap around a particular frequency or between two particular dispersion branches. While sizable band gaps can be realized, the possibility remains that the frequency bandwidth of the load that is to be isolated might exceed the size of the band gap. In this paper, genetic algorithms are used to design squared bi-material unit cells with a maximized sum of band-gap widths, with or without normalization relative to the central frequency of each band gap, over a prescribed total frequency range of interest. The optimized unit cells therefore exhibit broadband frequency isolation characteristics. The effects of the ratios of contrasting material properties are also studied. The designed cells are subsequently used, with varying levels of material damping, to form a finite vibration isolation structure, which is subjected to broadband loading conditions. Excellent isolation properties of the synthesized material are demonstrated for this structure.     

A NEW FREQUENCY SELECTIVE SURFACE COMPOSED OF LEFT-HANDED MATERIALS

The frequency selective characteristics of a new dielectric periodic structure composed of left-handed materials (LHM) are carefully studied by a method which combines the multimode network theory with the rigorous mode matching method. The variations of the frequency selective characteristics with structure parameters and dielectric loss are presented and comparisons for the frequency selective properties between RHM and LHM gratings are also shown with some explanations. Guidelines for accurate design of the LHM dielectric frequency selective surface are given. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 60171037) (No. 60371010) and (No. 63531020)     

A Double-Beam Radiation Leaky Wave Antenna Based on Left-Handed Material Slab with Metallic Strips Periodically Loaded

A new leaky-wave antenna structure is carefully investigated in the paper, which is based on a grounded Left-Handed material (LHM) slab periodically loaded with metal strips. A rigorous formulation similar to the spectral domain method for planar circuits is deduced to analyze the radiation characteristics of the antenna. Theoretical analysis results reveal that at specific frequency region or with proper geometrical parameters chosen, the present structure supports simultaneously two leaky modes corresponding to the forward and backward radiations. The principle of the antenna is due to the peculiar propagation properties of the unperturbed LHM grounded slab waveguide, which is totally different from the phenomenon of double or even more space harmonic mode radiations in normal periodic structures. Extensive numerical results of the leakage characteristics are given to establish useful guidelines for the design of the new type leaky wave antenna.     

INVESTIGATION ON EFFECTS OF LEFT-HANDED MATERIALS ON FREQUENCY SELECTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIELECTRIC PERIODIC STRUCTURES

The effects of left-handed materials (LHM) on frequency selective reflection and transmission characteristics of dielectric periodic structures are carefully investigated using a method which combines the multimode network theory with the rigorous mode matching method. In addition, the effects of LHM dielectric loss on the selective properties are also given. It has been shown that the selective behavior of periodic structures can be modified by adding LHM layers above and below the periodic layer. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 60171037) (No. 60371010) and (No. 63531020)     

二维各向同性异向介质负折射特性仿真验证

提出了一种工作在C波段的二维各向同性异向介质，相比于以往的二维异向介质，它除了具有二维各向同性的优点外，还具有带宽更宽，单元结构的尺寸更小，构造也更简单的特点.通过分别仿真验证异向介质的双负特性和负折射特性最终肯定上述异向介质的存在. 关键词： 各向同性异向介质 宽频带 小单元 双负特性     

Electrodynamics of metallic photonic crystals and the problem of left-handed materials

An analytical theory of low frequency electromagnetic waves in metallic photonic crystals with a small volume fraction of a metal is presented. The evidence for such waves has been obtained recently by experiments and computations. The cutoff frequency of these waves, omega(0), is studied. An analytical expression for the permittivity epsilon is obtained and shown to be negative below omega(0). If the crystal is embedded into a medium with a negative mu, there are no propagating modes at any frequency. Thus, such a compound system is not a left-handed material (LHM). The recent experimental results on the LHM are discussed.     

光频三维各向同性左手超材料结构单元模型的仿真设计

基于树枝结构单元思想,提出了光频三维各向同性左手超材料球刺结构单元模型.采用金属的Drude原理,运用等效媒质理论,仿真研究了结构的电磁响应特性.在晶格间距与工作波长的比值满足等效媒质理论要求的前提下,通过调节结构单元的几何参数,发现它能在光波段出现介电常数和磁导率同时为负值的区域,实现折射率小于零的左手超材料响应特性.该模型结构简单,具有各向同性特点.研究结果为采用"由下向上"方法制备光波段的三维左手超材料指出了新的途径. 关键词： 球刺模型 光波段 三维 各向同性     

一种用于60 GHz通信的S型结构左手材料的设计

基于对S型结构的理论分析,将中心频率设置为60 GHz,通过合理的改变单元结构中相应的尺寸以实现所需电谐振和磁谐振频率,并且经过优化以实现负介电常量和负磁导率的重合频段尽可能理想. 运用反演参量提取方法进行电磁参量提取,可以得到本设计在58.1~61.4 GHz频段内其ε和μ同时为负,即左手频段. 分析散射参量的仿真结果,在58~62 GHz频段内S₂₁大于-3 dB,在59.8~60.4 GHz频段内,S₁₁小于-20 dB,因此该设计结果可以运用于60 GHz通信滤波器和天线等器件的研究与设计.     

遗传算法在二维声子晶体带隙优化中的应用

运用自适应遗传算法对二维声子晶体的带隙宽度进行优化设计，并与平面波展开法相结合，研究了由正方形排列的铅-环氧树脂构成的声子晶体的带隙宽度优化问题，发现自适应遗传算法可以有效地搜索到具有较宽完全声子带隙的优化单胞形式. 关键词： 声子晶体 声子带隙 遗传算法     

关于左手性介质几何光学的研究（二）

利用几何光学方法研究了由左手性介质制成的简单透镜的光学特性.推理分析了左手性介质透镜处球形界面的负折射规律，并依此表明了常用光学公式仍适用于左手性介质.指出了左手性介质透镜相对于用传统介质制作的普通透镜所具备的固有优点，最后证实了利用单块左手性介质透镜即可完全消球差，并相应提供了零球差左手性介质透镜的设计实例.     

Effect of spiral left-handed material with near-zero index on rectangular microstrip antenna

In this paper, spirals are arranged periodically on the surface of the substrate, making a left-handed material (LHM) with a near-zero index of refraction. A radiation patch is etched on the surface of this substrate, making an antenna. The finite difference time domain method is used to study the effect of this LHM with a near-zero index of refraction on the microstrip. At f=13.78 GHz, the equivalent permittivity and permeability of the proposed spiral materials are both negative; at f=28.02 GHz, the equivalent permittivity and permeability are both negative and the refraction index is near zero. Compared with conventional microstrip antenna, the radiation gain of the antenna is much higher and the return loss is much lower due to the near-zero-index effect.     

Lower RCS directional antenna by left-handed material

We theoretically study the radiation of a current line source with a surrounding cylindrical shell of left-handed material (LHM). The far-field radiation pattern is obtained by solving the Maxwell equation in a cylindrical coordinate, which show that this radiation system has good directional emission characteristics and can be used as a directive antenna. The directive emission is explained due to the negative refraction and the focus effect occurring at the interface of the LHM shell. Compared with the parabolic reflector antenna with the same aperture size, our antenna has lower radar cross-section (RCS) in a broadband frequency range, providing a way to realize lower RCS antenna.     

Dual bands of negative refractive indexes in the planar left-handed metamaterials

A kind of planar left-handed metamaterial (LHM) with unique configurations is demonstrated, which offers an approach in building dual-band negative-index materials. Simulated and experimental results predict two left-handed transmission bands near 11.1 and 14.6 GHz. Dual bands of negative refractive indexes are verified using the retrieval procedure. Field and current distribution at the dual magnetic resonance are also examined. The effective electromagnetic parameters show that by carefully adjusting dimensions of the unit cell, electric and magnetic resonances can be coexistent at some frequency ranges with both negative permittivity and negative permeability. The idea can help us designing planar negative-index materials with multibands.     

（3＋1）-dimensional nonlinear propagation equation for ultrashort pulsed beam in left-handed material

In this paper a comprehensive framework for treating the nonlinear propagation of ultrashort pulse in metamaterial with dispersive dielectric susceptibility and magnetic permeability is presented. Under the slowly-evolving-wave approximation, a generalized （3＋1）-dimensional wave equation first order in the propagation coordinate and suitable for both right-handed material （I~HM） and left-handed material （LHM） is derived. By the commonly used Drude dispersive model for LHM, a （3＋1）-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation describing ultrashort pulsed beam propagation in LHM is obtained, and its difference from that for conventional RHM is discussed. Particularly, the self-steeping effect of ultrashort pulse is found to be anomalous in LHM.     

Focusing and phase compensation of paraxial beams by a left-handed material slab

On the basis of angular spectrum representation, a formalism describing paraxial beams propagating through an isotropic left-handed material (LHM) slab is presented. The treatment allows us to introduce the ideas of beam focusing and phase compensation by LHM slab. Because of the negative refractive index of LHM slab, the inverse Gouy phase shift and the negative Rayleigh length of paraxial Gaussian beam are proposed. It is shown that the phase difference caused by the Gouy phase shift in right-handed material (RHM) can be compensated by that caused by the inverse Gouy phase shift in LHM. If certain matching conditions are satisfied, the intensity and phase distributions at object plane can be completely reconstructed at the image plane.     

包含左手材料的四层平板波导中的光导模

研究一个芯子层是左手材料,其他三层由传统材料构成的四层平板光波导系统,利用图解法对各种TE偏振的导波模式的解进行详细分析.研究表明,四层左手材料光波导既能支持振荡导模,也能支持表面导模,与三层左手材料光波导相比较,此四层波导的导波模式呈现一些新的特性.对于中间传统材料层存在振荡场的情形:芯子层支持振荡导模的光波导中存在基模,并且高阶振荡导模出现模式缺失的性质;芯子层支持表面导模的光波导可以支持基模和多个高阶模式,并且存在模式兼并的性质.对于中间传统材料层存在衰减场的情形,此四层波导结构可等效为三层左手材料光波导.这些新的光波导传输性质对各种光波导器件的制作有潜在的应用价值.