Graphene-based electrically reconfigurable deep-subwavelength metamaterials for active control of THz light propagation

This work studies the terahertz light propagation through graphene-based reconfigurable metasurfaces where the unit cell dimensions are much smaller than the terahertz wavelength. The proposed devices, which poses deep-subwavelength unit cell and active region dimensions can operate as amplitude and/or phase modulators in certain specific frequency bands determined by the device geometry. Reconfigurability is attained via electrostatically tuning the optical conductivity of patterned graphene layers, which are strategically located in each unit cell. The ultra-small unit cell dimensions can be advantageous for beam shaping applications.     

各向异性超常材料中倒退波的传播研究

研究了完全各向异性超常材料中的倒退波传播现象,得到了在材料本征轴和传输轴成任意角度情形下倒退波形成的条件,分析了超常材料的介电张量和磁导率张量、电磁波的偏振方式对倒退波形成和传播的影响. 在此基础上,进一步分析了几种不同色散曲线关系的各向异性超常材料中倒退波的产生情况,获得了电磁波波矢和坡印亭矢量(能流)夹角的具体表达式和倒退波传播的一般性结论. 此外,还研究了近零介电常数超常材料中倒退波的传播特性,发现在此类超常材料中倒退波只能是完美倒退波. 关键词： 超常材料 负折射 倒退波 各向异性     

Optical wave propagation in photonic crystal metamaterials

Metamaterials that provide negative refraction can be implemented in photonic crystals (PhCs) through careful design of the devices. Theoretically, we demonstrate that the dispersion can be altered to achieve negative refraction. This can be done through engineering the geometry of the device as well as selecting appropriate materials. The PhC also demonstrates slow light that facilitate sensing chemicals or biological agents. Using metallic materials such as gold nano-particle enables PhCs to guide optical waves in desired pathways. Also using magnetic materials such as highly doped n-GaAs, we can tune the band gap by changing magnetic field. The simulated results are consistent with some of the previously reported experimental results and give us guidance for future experiments.     

Guided wave propagation in multilayered piezoelectric structures

A general formulation of the method of the reverberation-ray matrix (MRRM) based on the state space formalism and plane wave expansion technique is presented for the analysis of guided waves in multilayered piezoelectric structures. Each layer of the structure is made of an arbitrarily anisotropic piezoelectric material. Since the state equation of each layer is derived from the three-dimensional theory of linear piezoelectricity, all wave modes are included in the formulation. Within the framework of the MRRM, the phase relation is properly established by excluding exponentially growing functions, while the scattering relation is also appropriately set up by avoiding matrix inversion operation. Consequently, the present MRRM is unconditionally numerically stable and free from computational limitations to the total number of layers, the thickness of individual layers, and the frequency range. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the good performance of the proposed formulation for the analysis of the dispersion characteristic of waves in layered piezoelectric structures. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10725210 and 10832009), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (Grant No. 20060335107), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2009CB623204), and the Scientific Research Foundation for Tsuiying Talents of Lanzhou University     

超常介质中光轴任意取向时电磁波传播的反常现象研究

当电磁波的传输轴和各向异性超常介质的光轴成任意夹角时,发现在界面处可以产生反常全向全反射和反常负折射现象.导出了电磁波的入射角和能流折射角之间的函数关系,根据此关系可方便地选择合适的介电张量和磁导率张量,使特定入射角所对应的折射是正或是负.此外,发现当入射角小于某一角度时,尤其在垂直入射附近时,透射率最小甚至为零;基于这一特性,提出了一种新型的薄片型高通空间滤波器的构想,和传统的空间滤波系统相比,可以大大减少滤波系统的体积;这一特性也可用于构造空间低频反射器件. 关键词： 超常介质 各向异性 反常传播 空间滤波     

Love wave propagation in piezoelectric layered structure with dissipation

We investigate analytically the effect of the viscous dissipation of piezoelectric material on the dispersive and attenuated characteristics of Love wave propagation in a layered structure, which involves a thin piezoelectric layer bonded perfectly to an unbounded elastic substrate. The effects of the viscous coefficient on the phase velocity of Love waves and attenuation are presented and discussed in detail. The analytical method and the results can be useful for the design of the resonators and sensors.     

Love wave propagation in functionally graded piezoelectric material layer

An exact approach is used to investigate Love waves in functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) layer bonded to a semi-infinite homogeneous solid. The piezoelectric material is polarized in z-axis direction and the material properties change gradually with the thickness of the layer. We here assume that all material properties of the piezoelectric layer have the same exponential function distribution along the x-axis direction. The analytical solutions of dispersion relations are obtained for electrically open or short circuit conditions. The effects of the gradient variation of material constants on the phase velocity, the group velocity, and the coupled electromechanical factor are discussed in detail. The displacement, electric potential, and stress distributions along thickness of the graded layer are calculated and plotted. Numerical examples indicate that appropriate gradient distributing of the material properties make Love waves to propagate along the surface of the piezoelectric layer, or a bigger electromechanical coupling factor can be obtained, which is in favor of acquiring a better performance in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices.     

Forward and backward wave propagation in multilayer planar waveguide using metamaterials layer

In this study, an efficient method is discussed to analyze the multilayer planar waveguides with double negative guided (DNG) and double positive material as guiding film. Here, among various lossless multilayer planar waveguide structures, only three layer and five layer structures are discussed. For these structures, guided dispersion characteristic, along with electric field distribution of TM modes are numerically analyzed and compared. This analysis enables an effective comparison of guided modal properties of various modes and results in a better understanding of the multilayer planar waveguide with DNG as guiding film.     

Recursive surface impedance matrix methods for ultrasonic wave propagation in piezoelectric multilayers

Two recursive surface impedance methods are described for acoustic wave propagation in multilayered piezoelectric structures. Both methods have the advantage of conceptual simplicity and flexibility brought about by the transfer matrix method. Moreover they do not have a priori computational limitations with respect to the total number of layers of the stratified structure nor with respect to the thickness of individual layers; nor is the computational stability limited by the frequency range. For both methods, numerical simulations were carried out in order to illustrate their performances and robustness when combined with suitable recursive numerical algorithms.     

Bandwidth constraints for passive superluminal propagation through metamaterials

Superluminal transmission of electromagnetic waves is usually observed in a narrow bandwidth range and the velocity outside this range is subluminal. In this paper, it is shown that the transmission coefficient for superluminal propagation through a periodic metamaterial structure satisfies a sum rule. The sum rule and its corresponding physical bound relate frequency regions with a phase velocity above an arbitrary threshold with the thickness of the slab. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples.     

Surface acoustic wave propagation and acoustoelectric interaction in multilayered piezoelectric semiconductors

In the past years, the acoustoelectric interaction has been used in a number of different devices such as acoustic amplifiers, acoustoelectric convolvers and acoustic coupled transport devices. Recent developments in synthesized semiconductor superlattices with high quality heterostructures have been found to be useful in a new generation of high performance devices such as the High Electron Mobility Transistor. The objective of this paper is to extend the use of these superlattices to acoustoelectric devices. A complete theory of acoustoelectric interaction in layered piezoelectric semiconductor has been developed. The acoustic propagation equations have been solved together with the continuity, transport and Poisson equations. The free carrier transport properties are accounted for using a mobility tensor to describe the two-dimensional behavior. The acoustical and electrical boundary conditions have been used to obtain mechanical displacement and electric field expressed in terms of Bloch functions. The effect of longitudinal D.C. applied field on SAW attenuation or amplification is also considered.     

Shear-horizontal acoustic wave propagation in piezoelectric bounded plates with metal gratings

In this paper, shear-horizontal (SH) acoustic wave propagation in metal gratings deposited on piezoelectric bounded plates is investigated. The spectral characteristics of the electromechanical coupling coefficient are studied first, which are very important for acoustic wave device designs. And, an effective mathematic method based on even- and odd base functions is also presented for overcoming the large frequency thickness product problem. Then, the characteristics of the grating modes are studied, and the nature and characteristics of the stop bands are investigated fully. The results show that the width and attenuation of the stop bands are dominated by the electromechanical coupling coefficient at the frequency centers of the stop bands.     

Superdiffusive wave front propagation in a chemical active flow

We present experiments on the propagation of a wave front in a fluid forced by Faraday waves. The vertical periodical modulation of the acceleration induces flows in the system that modifies the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) chemical reaction dynamics. Phase waves spreading through standing waves with different symmetries results in superdiffusion. The anomalous diffusion is characterized in terms of a non-integer transport exponent which is compared with exponents resulting from tracer particles trajectories undergoing rapid, distant jumps called Lévy flights.     

Regular wave propagation out of noise in chemical active media

A pacemaker, regularly emitting chemical waves, is created out of noise when an excitable photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky medium, strictly unable to autonomously initiate autowaves, is forced with a spatiotemporal patterned random illumination. These experimental observations are also reproduced numerically by using a set of reaction-diffusion equations for an activator-inhibitor model, and further analytically interpreted in terms of genuine coupling effects arising from parametric fluctuations. Within the same framework we also address situations of noise-sustained propagation in subexcitable media.     

Simulation of elastic wave propagation in cylindrical structures including excitation by piezoelectric transducers

The development and optimization of non-destructive testing procedures usually needs experimental data. As experiments are time-consuming and expensive to conduct, we would like to use numerical data instead. This is admissible, if the simulation describes the physical experiments accurately. A three-dimensional displacement-stress finite-difference model is presented for a piezoelectric transducer coupled to an anisotropic tube. The allocation of the displacement and stress components on a staggered grid leads to a stable scheme. A full piezoelectric model of the transducer is used, including transverse isotropy in the elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric constants. Similar to an experiment, elastic waves are excited in the corresponding simulation by applying a voltage signal to the electrodes of the piezoelectric transducer. Predictions of the simulation model for a piezoelectric ring transducer coupled to a carbon-fibre-reinforced shell are compared to experimental results to test the validity of the numerical data.     

In situ 2-D piezoelectric wafer active sensors arrays for guided wave damage detection

This paper presented development work of an in situ method for damage detection in thin-wall structures using embedded two-dimensional ultrasonic phased arrays. Piezoelectric wafer active sensors were used to generate and receive guided Lamb waves propagating in the plate-like structure. The development of a generic beamforming algorithm that does not require parallel ray assumption through using full wave propagation paths is described. A virtual beam steering method and device, the embedded ultrasonic structural radar, was implemented as a signal post-processing procedure. Several two-dimensional configurations were investigated and compared with beamforming simulation. Finally, rectangular shape arrays were developed for verifying the generic formulas and omnidirectionality. The rectangular arrays yield good directionality within the 360° full range and are able to detect damage anywhere in the entire plate.     

Two models of anisotropic propagation of a cardiac excitation wave

Propagation of the action potential in the real heart is direction-dependent (anisotropic). We propose two general physical models explaining this anisotropy on the cellular level. The first, “delay” model takes into account the frequency of the cell-cell transitions in different directions of propagation, assuming each transition requires some small time interval. The second model relies on the assumption that the action potential transmits to the next cell only from the area at the pole of the previous cell. We estimated parameters of both models by doing optical mapping and fluorescent staining of cardiac cell samples grown on polymer fiber substrate. Both models gave reasonable estimations, but predicted different behaviors of the anisotropy ratio (ratio of the highest and lowest wave velocities) after addition of the suppressor of sodium channels such as lidocaine. The results of the experiment on lidocaine effect on anisotropy ratio were in favor of the first, “delay” model. Estimated average cell-cell transition delay was 240 ± 80 μs, which is close to the characteristic values of synaptic delay.     

Surface wave propagation at the interface between lossy metamaterials medium and nonlinear media with arbitrary nonlinearity

The dispersion relation in a system that consists of a lossy metamaterials (MTMs) film surrounded by a linear substrate and a nonlinear cladding with an arbitrary nonlinearity is derived. The surface plasmonic (SP) wave at the interfaces between metamaterials (MTMs) and the nonlinear cover is recovered by taking certain limits. Lossy MTMs have simultaneously complex-negative permeability μ and complex-negative permittivity ε. Results are presented by plotting the SP frequency as a function of the nonlinearity at chosen damping factors. Both the real and imaginary parts are studied. Results also display the wave frequency as a function of plasma frequency. For comparison, the imaginary part is set to zero and curves are reproduced.     

SH surface acoustic wave propagation in a cylindrically layered piezomagnetic/piezoelectric structure

SH surface acoustic wave (SH-SAW) propagation in a cylindrically layered magneto-electro-elastic structure is investigated analytically, where a piezomagnetic (or piezoelectric) material layer is bonded to a piezoelectric (or piezomagnetic) substrate. By means of transformation, the governing equations of the coupled waves are reduced to Bessel equation and Laplace equation. The boundary conditions imply that the displacements, shear stresses, electric potential, and electric displacements are continuous across the interface between the layer and the substrate together with the traction free at the surface of the layer. The magneto-electrically open and shorted conditions at cylindrical surface are taken to solve the problem. The phase velocity is numerically calculated for different thickness of the layer and wavenumber for piezomagnetic ceramics CoFe₂O₄ and piezoelectric ceramics BaTiO₃. The effects of magnetic permeability on propagation properties of SH-SAW are discussed in detail. The distributions of displacement, magnetic potential and magneto-electromechanical coupling factor are also figured and discussed.     

Nonlinear dynamic response and active vibration control for piezoelectric functionally graded plate

The nonlinear dynamic response and active vibration control of the piezoelectric functionally graded plate are analyzed in this paper. Based on higher-order shear plate theory and elastic piezoelectric theory, the nonlinear geometric and constitutive relations of the piezoelectric functionally graded plate are established, and then the nonlinear motion equations of the piezoelectric functionally graded plate are obtained through Hamilton's variational principle. The nonlinear active vibration control of the structure is carried out with adoption of the negative velocity feedback control algorithm. By applying finite difference method, the whole problem is solved by using iterative method synthetically. In numerical examples, the effects of mechanical load, electric load, the volume fraction and the geometric parameters on the dynamic response and vibration control of the piezoelectric FGM plate are investigated.