Low-loss negative-index metamaterial at telecommunication wavelengths

We fabricate and characterize a low-loss silver-based negative-index metamaterial based on the design of a recent theoretical proposal. Comparing the measured transmittance and reflectance spectra with theory reveals good agreement. We retrieve a real part of the refractive index of Re(n)= -2 around 1.5 microm wavelength. The maximum of the ratio of the real to the imaginary part of the refractive index is about three at a spectral position where Re(n)= -1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the best figure of merit reported for any negative-index photonic metamaterial to date.     

Nonlinear planar optical waveguide sensors comprising metamaterial guiding films at terahertz frequencies

In this paper, we propose a metamaterial film bounded by a nonlinear cover and a dielectric substrate as a THz wave sensor. The dispersion characteristics and magnetic field profiles have been derived, computed and analyzed. Confinement of the light waves was found to increase with both nonlinearity and frequency. We believe our results can be used to design novel tunable future sensors.     

Realization of a three-functional-layer negative-index photonic metamaterial

We modify a recently theoretically suggested multilayer negative-index photonic metamaterial design and fabricate corresponding structures with up to three functional layers (seven actual layers) for the first time to our knowledge. Measured transmittance and reflectance spectra agree well with theory.     

Compact multiband left-handed metamaterial at terahertz frequencies

We design and analyze a novel multiband left-handed metamaterial based on a fishnet-like structure at terahertz (THz) frequencies.The metamaterial exhibits simultaneous negative refractions around the frequencies of 0.48,1.05,and 1.19 THz for the electromagnetic (EM) wave normal incidence,and around the frequencies of 0.20,0.79,and 1.13 THz for parallel incidence.The simulated results verify the left-handed properties.A particularly important observation is the capability of the proposed metamaterial with a single geometrical structure to display multifrequency operations in a unit cell.The compact metamaterial is a major step toward the miniaturization of THz materials and devices suitable for multifrequencies.     

Active microwave negative-index metamaterial transmission line with gain

We studied the active metamaterial transmission line at microwave frequency. The active composite right-handed or left-handed transmission line was designed to incorporate a germanium tunnel diode with a negative differential resistance property as the gain device at the unit cell level. Measurements of the fabricated planar transmission line structures with one-, two-, and three-unit cells showed that the addition of the dc pumped tunnel diodes not only provided gain but also maintained the left handedness of the transmission line metamaterial. Simulation results agree well with experimental observation. This work demonstrated that negative index material can be obtained with a net gain when an external source is incorporated.     

Dynamical electric and magnetic metamaterial response at terahertz frequencies

Utilizing terahertz time domain spectroscopy, we have characterized the electromagnetic response of a planar array of split ring resonators (SRRs) fabricated upon a high resistivity GaAs substrate. The measured frequency dependent magnetic and electric resonances are in excellent agreement with theory and simulation. For two polarizations, the SRRs yield a negative electric response (epsilon < 0). We demonstrate, for the first time, dynamical control of the electrical response of the SRRs through photoexcitation of free carriers in the substrate. An excited carrier density of approximately 4 x 10(16) cm(-3) is sufficient to short the gap of the SRRs, thereby turning off the electric resonance, demonstrating the potential of such structures as terahertz switches. Because of the universality of metamaterial response over many decades of frequency, these results have implications for other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.     

Controlling the second harmonic in a phase-matched negative-index metamaterial

Nonlinear metamaterials have been predicted to support new and exciting domains in the manipulation of light, including novel phase-matching schemes for wave mixing. Most notable is the so-called nonlinear-optical mirror, in which a nonlinear negative-index medium emits the generated frequency towards the source of the pump. In this Letter, we experimentally demonstrate the nonlinear-optical mirror effect in a bulk negative-index nonlinear metamaterial, along with two other novel phase-matching configurations, utilizing periodic poling to switch between the three phase-matching domains.     

Broadband 3D isotropic negative-index metamaterial based on fishnet structure

In this paper, we numerically demonstrate a broadband 3D isotropic negative index metamaterial (NIM) at microwave frequency ranges, which is composed of double periodic array metallic fishnet structure (FS) etched on the six sides of a cubic dielectric substrate. The electric and magnetic L-C resonance circuit models are constructed to demonstrate the broadband resonance properties of the proposed 3D metamaterial. The finite integration technology (FIT) simulation and standard S parameters retrieval methods are used to calculate and analyze the negative characteristics, isotropy and polarization of the 3D model. The numerical results show that the negative index bandwidth is about 7 GHz and relative bandwidth can be up nearly to 63%, the negative-index pass band is independent of the polarization of incident waves and is almost the same for different oblique incident angles. Thus, the proposed metamaterial is good candidate as a broad-band 3D isotropic NIMs.     

Enhanced diffraction from a grating on the surface of a negative-index metamaterial

We show by numerical simulation as well as by measurements on negative-index metamaterial wedge samples, that the unavoidable stepping of the refraction interface-due to the finite unit-cell size inherent to metamaterials-can give rise to a well-defined diffracted beam in addition to the negatively refracted beam. The direction of the diffracted beam is consistent with elementary diffraction theory; however, the coupling to this higher order beam is much larger than would be the case for a positive index material. The results confirm recent theoretical predictions of enhanced diffraction for negative-index grating surfaces.     

Tunable electromagnetically induced transparency at terahertz frequencies in coupled graphene metamaterial

A graphene-based metamaterial with tunable electromagnetically induced transparency(EIT)-like transmission is numerically studied in this paper. The proposed structure consists of a graphene layer composed of coupled cut-wire pairs printed on a substrate. The simulation confirms that an EIT-like transparency window can be observed due to indirect coupling in a terahertz frequency range. More importantly, the peak frequency of the transmission window can be dynamically controlled over a broad frequency range by varying the Fermi energy levels of the graphene layer through controlling the electrostatic gating. The proposed metamaterial structure offers an additional opportunity to design novel applications such as switches or modulators.     

Planar terahertz metamaterial with three-resonant frequencies

In this paper, we study a three-resonant metamaterial with the combination of dual-resonant and single-resonant metamaterials. We present a new method to design multi-resonant metamaterial, which has a smaller dimension than general symmetric and asymmetric multi-resonant metamaterials. Theoretical and experimental results show that the structure has three distinct absorption frequencies centering around 0.29 THz, 0.46 THz, and 0.92 THz, and that each of them corresponds to a different resonant mode. Due to the good separation of the different resonances, this design provides a unique and effective method to construct multiband terahertz devices.     

Piezoelectric lattice vibrations at optical frequencies

A relationship is proposed between the piezoelectric coefficient and the dielectric constant (or refractive index) based on classical dispersion theory. Piezoelectric lattice vibrations are associated with ionic polarizations at optical frequencies. This relation is applied to study the piezoelectric lattice vibrations in α-quartz, and agreement is found between the calculated and the measured value of the piezoelectric coefficient. No direct experimental method for measurement of piezoelectric coefficients at optical frequencies exists; however, in terms of the proposed relation, piezoelectric coefficients at optical frequencies can be evaluated from infrared reflection measurements.     

Absorptive optical bistability at microwave frequencies

Summary Intrinsic absorptive bistability and hysteresis cycles in a steady-state regime are obtained at microwave frequencies. A theory is presented which takes into account the Gaussian shape of the fundamental mode excited into the resonator and is compared with the experimental results.

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Riassunto Sono state osservate la bistabilità assorbitiva intrinseca e l’isteresi nel caso stazionario, operando alle frequenze delle microonde. Si presenta una teoria che tiene conto della forma gaussiana del modo fondamentale eccitato nel risuonatore e che è confrontata con i risultati sperimentali.

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Резюме На микроволновых пастотах наблюдаются внутренняя абсорбционная бистабильность и гистерезисные циклы в стационарном режиме. Предлагается теория, которая учитывает гауссову форму основной моды, возбужденноц в резонаторе, и которая сравнивается с экспериментальными резулстатами.

     

An improved fishnet three-dimensional metamaterial with multiband left-handed characteristics at terahertz frequencies

We present the design of a multiband left-handed three-dimensional (3D) metamaterial based on improved fishnet structure at terahertz frequencies. The design realizes a three-dimensional material by mechanical stacking of multiple layers. The electromagnetic properties of the metamaterial have been investigated by numerical simulation. The results show that simultaneously negative values of permittivity, permeability and refractive index are found around the frequencies of 0.73, 0.85 and 1.12 THz for the electromagnetic wave normal incidence. The proposed metamaterial with independent polarization and compact effect offers a way to develop THz 3D materials and devices suitable for multifrequencies.     

Experimental demonstration of electromagnetic tunneling through an epsilon-near-zero metamaterial at microwave frequencies

Silveirinha and Engheta have recently proposed that electromagnetic waves can tunnel through a material with an electric permittivity (epsilon) near zero (ENZ). An ENZ material of arbitrary geometry can thus serve as a perfect coupler between incoming and outgoing waveguides with identical cross-sectional area, so long as one dimension of the ENZ is electrically small. In this Letter we present an experimental demonstration of microwave tunneling between two planar waveguides separated by a thin ENZ channel. The ENZ channel consists of a planar waveguide in which complementary split ring resonators are patterned on the lower surface. A tunneling passband is found in transmission measurements, while a two-dimensional spatial map of the electric field distribution reveals a uniform phase variation across the channel--both measurements in agreement with theory and numerical simulations.     

光波段多频负折射率超材料

从光波段圆孔形双鱼网结构的负折射材料模型出发,采用基于有限积分技术的CST软件系统研究了原胞结构的改变对负折射行为的影响.数值仿真结果表明,对原胞结构做微小调节也可获得负折射率频带的增大效应.将双鱼网结构改为阶梯形孔洞和半球形孔洞结构,可以在更多的频段里出现负折射率,并且谐振频率发生了一定的红移.半球形孔洞的双鱼网结构可以方便地用化学模板法制备,这为从实验上实现红外及可见光波段的多频负折射材料提供了一种简单可行的方法. 关键词： 负折射率 多频段 双鱼网结构     

微波超材料隐形结构及其新型快速实验方案

基于Maxwell方程组在坐标变换下的协变性,利用柱坐标变换以及开口谐振环周期排列而形成的超材料设计了一个工作于10.14GHz频率下的隐形结构.采用一种新型快速实验方案测量微波信号强度.实验结果表明在外围增加了隐形结构之后,圆柱金属的阴影和散射效应都被削弱,得到了预期的隐形效果.该实验系统降低了系统的结构复杂性并缩短了实验周期,为该领域的研究提供了一种新的简单有效的实验方案.