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     

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     

Lithographic antennas at visible frequencies

The response of antenna-coupled thin-film Ni-NiO-Ni diodes to 633-nm helium-neon laser radiation is investigated. Although these detectors and their integrated dipole antennas are optimized for the detection of mid-infrared radiation, a polarization dependence of the measured response to visible radiation is observed. The strongest signals are measured for the polarization parallel to the dipole antenna axis, which demonstrates antenna operation of the device in the visible in addition to the expected thermal and photoelectric effects. The connection structure of the diode also resonates and contributes to the polarization-dependent signal. The receiving area of the dipole antenna is approximately 2mum (2) .     

左手材料的反射特性与负折射率行为

利用平板波导法研究了不同入射角度下周期排列开口谐振环负磁导率材料、周期排列金属杆负介电常数材料以及左手材料微波反射特性，并利用劈尖法研究了左手材料的负折射特性.实验结果表明：负磁导率材料反射率曲线形成反射峰，其对应的反射峰频率与材料的谐振频率一致；负介电常数材料反射率接近0dB；左手材料出现单个反射较小的反射峰，其峰值反射率随入射角度的增大而变大，即反射能力增强，且反射峰与透射峰有相对频移.劈尖法测量还表明，左手材料在9800MHz频率附近出现负折射现象，其折射率n为-0.796. 关键词： 左手材料 反射 负折射率     

Possible implementation of epsilon-near-zero metamaterials working at optical frequencies

Metamaterials (MTMs) exhibiting a near-zero real part of the permittivity function in a given frequency range have been demonstrated to be useful in several application fields, including field localization and focusing. So far, however, the realistic implementations of such materials working at optical frequencies and exhibiting a reasonable level of losses are rare. In this work, we propose a possible implementation of optical epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) MTMs based on the employment of an array of core-shell nano-spheres embedded in a dielectric medium. The core of the nano-spheres and the host medium are both made of silica, while the shell is formed by a plasmonic material (i.e. silver). Using classical homogenization formulas, we show that it is possible to design the array in such a way to exhibit near-zero values of the effective real permittivity with relatively low losses at optical frequencies. These results are supported and confirmed by proper full-wave simulations and design examples.     

Bidirectional surface wave splitter at visible frequencies

We experimentally demonstrate a metal-film bidirectional surface wave splitter for guiding light at two visible wavelengths in opposite directions. Two nanoscale gratings were patterned on opposite sides of a subwavelength slit. The metallic surface grating structures were tailored geometrically to have different plasmonic bandgaps, enabling each grating to guide light of one wavelength and prohibit propagation at the other wavelength. The locations of the bandgaps were experimentally confirmed by interferometric measurements. Based on these design principles, a green-red bidirectional surface wave splitter is demonstrated, and the observed optical properties are shown to agree with theoretical predictions.     

Negative refractive index in chiral spiral metamaterials at terahertz frequencies

A three-dimensional chiral metamaterial consisting of arrays of the multi-layered mutually twisted metallic spirals is proposed. We theoretically demonstrate such a chiral spiral structure exhibiting negative refractive index at terahertz frequencies. The chirality with varied refractive index can be obtained by change of configurations of the structure. The presented design offers flexibility for investigation of electromagnetic properties of chiral metamaterials in the terahertz regime and thus leads to a unique route to terahertz device applications.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations of easy made fishnet metamaterials at microwave frequencies

In this work, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally a left handed behaviour of a planar fishnet type metamaterial in the microwave regime. The fabrication procedure based on printed circuit board technology and mechanical micromachining technique is easy, unique and doesn’t involve optical lithography. The effective parameters have been extracted using the S parameter retrieval method and show a very good agreement between simulation and experiment. Using finite-element method based simulations and W-band (75 GHz–110 GHz) experiments. We measured a negative index of refraction of −4 at 85 GHz. The demonstrated left handed materials represent a step towards the easy fabrication of metamaterials with a negative refractive index that open a new path for the active manipulation of millimetre wavelengths.     

Diamagnetic response of metallic photonic crystals at infrared and visible frequencies

We show analytically and numerically that diamagnetic response (effective magnetic permeability mue<1) at infrared and visible frequencies can be achieved in photonic crystals composed of metallic nanowires or nanospheres when the wavelength is much larger than the lattice constant a (lambda approximately 2000a). When lambda approximately100a, the metallic photonic crystals will exhibit strong diamagnetic response (mue<0.8), leading to many interesting phenomena such as the unusual Brewster angle for s waves and incident-angle-and-polarization-independent reflection and transmission.     

可见光波段超材料的平面聚焦效应

基于超材料双鱼网结构物理模型,设计了树枝状结构+树枝状结构、树枝状结构+银膜和树枝状结构+氧化铟锡玻璃三种可见光波段超材料复合结构.采用双模板辅助化学电沉积方法,制备出金属银树枝状结构阵列和银膜,分别实现了这三种复合结构.透射和反射实验表明,三种复合结构具有类似的行为.比较发现,树枝状结构+氧化铟锡玻璃复合结构具有损耗低和平面聚焦效应明显的优点.通过调节实验条件,分别制备出能够实现平面聚焦的红绿蓝三种可见光波段超材料. 关键词： 超材料 银树枝状结构 可见光 平面聚焦     

Double negative in flexural single metal layer at visible frequencies

We theoretically investigate a thin single metal layer covered on sub-wavelength dielectric grating. Numerical simulations show that the structure has negative index in the normal direction at visible frequencies. Structural investigation demonstrates that the simultaneous negative permittivity and permeability at an overlapping frequency range are attributed to the metal cut-wire and “U”-shaped structure disassembled from the structure, respectively. Furthermore, parametric exploration for practical fabrication is presented.     

Magnetic monopole-like response in metamaterials

In this paper, we explored magnetic monopole-like responses in metamaterials. We designed a sub-wavelength metamolecule that is composed of two dielectric-spaced split-ring resonators. In response to incident waves, the induced magnetic field in the metamolecule resembles that of a two-dimensional magnetic monopole. The magnetic monopole-like response is resulted from electric resonance of the metamolecule, so an electric dipole is always attached. By combining two mirror-symmetric metamolecules with inward and outward radial magnetic fields, magnetic dipole-like responses can be produced just as an electric dipole is formed by separating two opposite-signed electric charges.     

Magnetic resonance imaging at frequencies below 1 kHz

Within the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) community the trend is going to higher and higher magnetic fields, ranging from 1.5 T to 7 T, corresponding to Larmor frequencies of 63.8–298 MHz. Since for high-field MRI the magnetization increases with the applied magnetic field, the signal-to-noise-ratio increases as well, thus enabling higher image resolutions. On the other hand, MRI is possible also at ultra-low magnetic fields, as was shown by different groups. The goal of our development was to reach a Larmor frequency range of the low-field MRI system corresponding to the frequency range of human brain activities ranging from near zero-frequency (near-DC) to over 1 kHz. Here, first 2D MRI images of phantoms taken at Larmor frequencies of 100 Hz and 731 Hz will be shown and discussed. These frequencies are examples of brain activity triggered by electrostimulation of the median nerve. The method will allow the magnetic fields of the brain currents to influence the magnetic resonance image, and thus lead to a direct functional imaging modality of neuronal currents.     

Magnetic response of dendritic structures at infrared frequencies

We propose a quasi-periodic dendritic resonant magnetic model that can be used for the realization of the negative permeability at infrared frequencies. The numerical simulation exhibits a magnetic response when the incident light is perpendicular to the plane of the model. The copper dendritic structures are prepared by the electro-deposition method. And the transmission spectrum of this dendritic structure shows a magnetic response at infrared frequencies with a maximum transmission −7.95 dB. Further studies demonstrate that the magnetic response relate to the fractal dimension of the dendritic structure to a certain extent.     

Manipulate light polarizations with metamaterials: From microwave to visible

Polarization is an important characteristic of electromagnetic (EM) waves, and efficient manipulations over EM wave polarizations are always desirable in practical applications. Here, we review the recent efforts in controlling light polarizations with metamaterials, at frequencies ranged from microwave to visible. We first presented a 4 × 4 version transfer matrix method (TMM) to study the scatterings by an anisotropic metamaterial of EM waves with arbitrary propagating directions and polarizations. With the 4 × 4 TMM, we discovered several amazing polarization manipulation phenomena based on the reflection geometry and proposed corresponding model metamaterial systems to realize such effects. Metamaterial samples were fabricated with the help of finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations, and experiments were performed to successfully realize these ideas at both microwave and visible frequencies. Efforts in employing metamaterials to manipulate light polarizations based on the transmission geometry are also reviewed.     

A review of size and geometrical factors influencing resonant frequencies in metamaterials

Although metamaterials and so-called left-handed media have originated from theoretical considerations, it is only by their practical fabrication and the measurement of their properties that they have gained credibility and can fulfil the potential of their predicted properties. In this review we consider some of the more generally applicable fabrication methods and changes in geometry as they have progressed, exhibiting resonant frequencies ranging from radio waves to the visible optical region. An erratum to this article is available at .