Transmission characteristics of wave modes in a rectangular waveguide filled with anisotropic metamaterial

In this paper, transmission characteristics of wave modes in a rectangular waveguide filled with lossless anisotropic metamaterial are theoretically investigated. The wave equation and dispersion relations for TE and TM modes in the waveguide are obtained and analyzed. It is shown that the negative constitutive parameters of the filling anisotropic metamaterial can be used to control the wave magnitude and the phase velocity direction in the waveguide over the entire frequency domain, both below and above the cutoff frequency. Particularly, not only backward waves, but also forward waves can propagate below the cutoff frequency in the waveguide. Furthermore, a typical example is calculated to demonstrate transmission characteristics of waves inside the waveguide. Numerical results are obtained in the paper and compared with theoretical predictions: a good agreement is found.     

Invisibility of a metamaterial cloak illuminated by spherical electromagnetic wave

In this paper, the invisibility of a metamaterial cloak illuminated by spherical electromagnetic wave is analytically investigated based on the full wave Mie scattering model. It is shown that for a cloak with ideal parameters the scattered field intensity is zero, but for a cloak with a loss, only the backscattering is exactly zero. Moreover, in the loss case, the scattered field intensity increases as the loss increases, which is very different from that in the conventional stealth case, where the scattered field intensity decreases as the loss of coated material increases. In addition, it is shown that scattering cross-section of the cloak with perturbed parameters decreases as the thickness of the cloak decreases, which means that thinner cloak can exhibit more stable invisibility.     

Omnidirectional and independently tunable defect modes in fractal photonic crystals containing single-negative materials

The properties and applications of omnidirectional and independently tunable defect modes in fractal photonic crystals containing single-negative materials are demonstrated. The proposed fractal structures can produce as many defect modes as desired by adjusting its structural parameters. The interaction effect between the defect states of such fractal structures is avoided, so the frequency of each defect mode can be tuned independently. Furthermore, these defect modes inside the zero effective-phase gap are insensitive to the incident angle. With perfect transmission, mode controllability and omnidirectional compatibility, these structures open a promising way for designing omnidirectional multichannel filters with specific channels.     

Study of a slab waveguide loaded with dispersive anisotropic metamaterials

We have numerically studied the characteristics of a slab waveguide loaded with dispersive anisotropic metamaterials. For two typical-structured metamaterials, we have analyzed the tensor expressions of frequency-dependent permittivity and permeability and discussed influences of the resonant cell structures on waveguiding characteristics. Numerical results show that the slab waveguide loaded with anisotropic metamaterials may, to some extent, behave as the slab waveguides of isotropic left-handed metamaterials (LHMs) core and conventional right-handed materials core. To one’s interest, some unusual properties are revealed in this paper, such as the coexistence of the fundamental guided mode and negative group velocity, and extraordinarily large normal or anomalous group velocity dispersion. Our results may find some potential applications in both linear and nonlinear optical technology.     

Influence of a magnetically permeable surface layer on transient electromagnetic field of a vertical magnetic dipole on a two-layer conducting earth

The transient electromagnetic field, in the frequency domain, on a two-layered conducting earth is reexamined when the usually neglected magnetic permeability contrast is considered. It is shown that for two-layered earth model, where the upper is permeable, the electromagnetic induction response is modified over the nonpermeable case. It is obtained as a summation of waveguide modes plus contributions from branch-cuts in the complex plane of the longitudinal wave number. The results from this paper can be used to evaluate numerical solution of other more complicated forward modeling algorithms. It can also be used in developing fast and simple interpretation tools, which can deliver quick estimation of the earth structure at the field.     

Improved Sellmeier equation for congruently grown lithium tantalate

We present a Sellmeier equation that describes the refractive index dispersion of congruently grown LiTaO₃, accurate from 0.3 to 5 μm and from 23 to above 200°C. Data were acquired by two different ways: directly by the minimal deviation technique in the visible and near-infrared range and indirectly by quasi-phase-matched optical parametric generation in PPLT in the mid-infrared range. The data was fit to a Sellmeier equation based on two oscillators in the UV and an infrared correction. The resulting equation accurately predicts the tuning curves for optical parametric generation in the infrared, as well as the correct quasi-phase-matching conditions for frequency conversion into the ultraviolet by second-harmonic generation.     

Highly collimated emission from a left-handed photonic crystal with a quasi-cavity

We study the collimated emission characteristics from a dipole source inside a negative-effective-refractive-index photonic crystal with a quasi-cavity constructed by a concave photonic crystal reflector. The emissions along the ±X and −Y directions are forbidden by the quasi-cavity, so that most emissions propagate along the +Y direction. Simulation results show that a narrow collimated beam is achieved due to the near-zero negative effective refractive index. Moreover, the half-power beam width of such a collimated beam can be reduced to 3.48° by optimizing the size of the source area. Such a compact structure would have potential applications in micro-optical devices.     

Influence of a magnetically permeable surface layer on transient fields for a thin circular loop antenna

The transient fields, in the time-domain, of a thin circular loop antenna, on a two-layered earth’s model are reexamined when the usually neglected magnetic permeability contrast is considered. It is shown that for a two-layered earth model, where the upper layer is permeable, the transient fields are modified over the nonpermeable case. The fields in the time domain are obtained as the inverse Laplace transforms of derived full wave time-harmonic solution. These time-domain solutions are obtained as a summation of waveguide modes plus contributions from branch cuts in the complex plane of the longitudinal wave number. The results should be useful for interpreting airborne electromagnetic systems and in cases where super-paramagnetic mineral constant is present.     

Femtosecond laser ablation of neurons in <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">elegans</Emphasis> for behavioral studies

In this paper, the interaction between the inhomogeneous and anisotropic cloak covered infinitely long PEC circular cylinder and the parallel electric-line-source is investigated in detail. First, the permittivity and permeability tensors of the cloak are defined according to Pendry’s model, then the wave equation in the metamaterial cloak is derived; second, the far/near properties of the model are investigated, and using the boundary conditions the electromagnetic fields of the whole region are calculated analytically; finally, based on the analytical expressions, the electric fields of the whole region are demonstrated through numerical results which show the effects of invisibility. Finally, the effects of loss on the performance of the invisible cloak are investigated.     

Polarization-independent low-pass spatial filters based on one-dimensional photonic crystals containing negative-index materials

A new application of one-dimensional photonic crystals containing negative-index materials is proposed as low-pass spatial filters. Through optimizing the parameters of defect layer, a series of polarization-independent defect modes in the zero-average-index gap of the photonic crystals are obtained with the increase of the incident angle. Based on these defect modes, polarization-independent low-pass spatial filters are designed. The spatial-frequency bandwidth of the spatial filters can be adjusted by changing the period number of the defective photonic crystal structures. In addition, the effect of the losses of negative-index materials on the spatial filters is considered.     

Effects of disorder on the frequency and field of photonic-crystal cavity resonators

In recent years the application of 2-Dimensional (2D) metallic Photonic-Crystal (PC) structures to high-power microwave devices, such as particle accelerators and gyrotrons, has gained increased interest. In this paper we focus on the effect disorder has on the resonant frequency and peak electric field in the defect site of a 2D PC structure. For disorders up to a maximum of 15% variation in position and radius, we found that disorder applied to the innermost rods surrounding the defect site dominates in determining the peak field and resonant frequency of the structure. We also show that small disorder (∼1%) can lead to an increase in peak field in certain cases due to structure optimization. We find that increasing levels of disorder lead to a decreasing average peak field for all structures. Whereas the mean resonant frequency remains constant for increasing disorder while the standard deviation increases. We then develop an understanding for this behaviour in terms of frequency detuning and mode confinement.     

Lateral shifts of an optical beam in an anisotropic metamaterial slab

The lateral shift of a light beam at the surface of an anisotropic metamaterial slab is investigated. Analytical expressions of the lateral shifts are derived using the stationary-phase method, in the case that total reflection does and does not occur at the first interface. The sign of the lateral shift in two situations is discussed, and the necessary conditions for the lateral shift to be positive or negative are given. It is shown that the thickness and physical parameters of the anisotropic metamaterial slab, as well as the incident angle of the light beam, strongly affect the properties of the lateral shift, and numerical results validate these conclusions. The effect of a lossy metamaterial on the lateral shift is also investigated. A restriction on the thickness of the slab is obtained, which is necessary for the stationary-phase method to remain valid.     

Positively and negatively large Goos–Hänchen lateral displacements from a symmetric gyrotropic slab

A detailed study on the lateral displacements of a transverse magnetic (TM) wave transmitted and reflected from a symmetric gyrotropic slab is presented. We give the analytic formulas for the transmission coefficient and the reflection coefficient, as well as the corresponding lateral displacements. It is found that due to the external magnetic field the displacement of a transmitted beam is different from that of reflected one, even for a lossless symmetric configuration. Furthermore, within the chosen frequency band, when the incident angle is near the Brewster angle, the shift of a reflected wave can be large with nonzero reflectance, and can be positive or negative depending on the direction of the applied magnetic field and the incident wave.     

RF-plasma assisted pulsed laser deposition of nitrogen-doped SrTiO3 thin films

Perovskite-type nitrogen substituted SrTiO₃ thin films were deposited with a one-step process by RF-plasma assisted pulsed laser deposition from a SrTiO₃ target using a N₂ plasma, while deposition with a NH₃ plasma yields films with almost no incorporated nitrogen. The deposited films exhibit a cubic perovskite-type crystal structure and reveal oriented growth on MgO(100) substrates. The unit cell parameters of the studied N-doped SrTiO₃ films range within 3.905<a<3.918 Å, which is slightly larger than for SrTiO₃ (a=3.905 Å). The nitrogen content in the deposited films varies from 0.2 to 0.7 atom%. The amount of incorporated nitrogen in the films decreases with increasing RF-power, while the N₂ flow rate does not have any pronounced influence on the N content. Nitrogen incorporation results in an increased optical absorption at 400–600 nm, which is associated with N(2p) energy states that have a higher energy level than the valence band in strontium titanate. The optical band gap energies in the studied N-doped SrTiO₃ films are at 3.2–3.3 eV, which is very similar to that of pure strontium titanate (～3.2 eV). Films deposited with NH₃ for the RF-plasma exhibit a lower degree of crystallinity and reveal almost no nitrogen incorporation into the crystal lattice.     

Improved amplitude–frequency characteristics for T-splitter photonic crystal waveguides in terahertz regime

Based on the plane-wave expansion method, we calculate TE/TM gaps of 2-D photonic crystals (PCs) with typical square lattices composed of the silicon rods in air. Using the finite-difference time-domain method, we simulate the electromagnetic field distribution of THz waves in photonic crystals T-splitters. By the improved T-splitter with a rod in the junction, we achieved the amplitude–frequency characteristics of a pass band of 84% from 1.12 to 1.22 THz and surpassed by 76% the amplitude consistency of common T-splitters. And using the finite-difference time-domain method, we demonstrated that the improved T-splitter excels a common T-splitter in the degree of separation between the two output ports. These results provide a useful guide and a theoretical basis for the developments of THz functional components.     

Structural and dehydriding properties of Ca(BH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We have investigated the structural and dehydriding properties of Ca(BH₄)₂. It was found that Ca(BH₄)₂ undergoes a structural phase transformation from an orthorhombic low-temperature (LT) modification into a tetragonal high-temperature (HT) modification between 433 K and 523 K. The amount of hydrogen desorbed from Ca(BH₄)₂ during the pressure–composition (p–c) isotherm measurement was 5.9 mass%. This hydrogen desorption is caused by the partial dehydrogenation of Ca(BH₄)₂ accompanied by the formation of CaH₂ and orthorhombic intermediate phases.     

Experiment study of tunneling phenomenon occurring in the photonic heterostructure containing single-negative metamaterials

In this paper, the tunneling phenomenon occurring in the photonic heterostructure consisting of single-negative (SNG) metamaterials is experimentally studied. First, the SNG metamaterials are fabricated using coplanar waveguide with lumped-element series capacitors and shunt inductors loading. Then, the tunneling phenomenon occurring in the photonic heterostructure containing SNG media is experimentally demonstrated. Moreover, the insensitivity of the tunneling frequency to the breakdown of periodicity of phonotic crystals was also illustrated.     

Properties of magnetically coupled metamaterial elements

The birth of the subject of metamaterials, including many early contributions, is briefly reviewed. More specifically, a relatively new topic, the properties of waves on magnetically coupled metamaterial elements are discussed with particular reference to their dispersion characteristics, excitation and applications.