Optical reflection properties for the interface associated with Chern insulator and chiral metamaterial

Based on the topological nature of Chern insulator and magnetoelectric coupling of chiral metamaterial, we investigate the electrodynamics for the interface associated with the two media. The Fresnel coefficients of the interface between Chern insulator and chiral metamaterial, as well as the corresponding polarization rotation angles, are derived. The reflection characteristics of the linearly polarized incident wave at the interface, such as complete polarization conversion and change of polarization state, are discussed. Under the combined influence of Chern insulator and chiral metamaterial, the partial polarization conversion may be enhanced to the complete polarization conversion, and the chiral metamaterial may compensate for the suppression effect of longitudinal conductivity of Chern insulator on the polarization conversion.     

Near field imaging in microwave regime using double layer split-ring resonator based metamaterial

A planar metamaterial structure consisting of two layers of split-ring resonator (SRR) arrays is demonstrated to form the image of a point source with subwavelength resolution. The source frequency is swept through the resonance gap of the metamaterial layers and the lateral field intensity distribution is recorded on the transmission side of the metamaterial. When the source is tuned to the resonance frequency of SRRs, the metamaterial acts as a high permeability medium and a distinct image with subwavelength resolution in the lateral direction is obtained. Increasing the distance between the individual SRR layers reduces the interlayer coupling, and the intensity and spatial resolution of the image decrease rapidly.     

C波段平面异向介质设计及其后向波特性验证

提出了一种工作在C波段的新型平面结构异向介质，它除了带宽宽和损耗小外，还具有体积小、结构简单的优点，而且能够实现工作频段的平移，频率平移范围为4—20 GHz.基于电磁波由自由空间入射半无限大异向介质平板的传输和反射数据，计算出了电波在其中传播时的相速随频率的变化曲线，结果表明所讨论的异向介质确实在预想的频段上表现出后向波特性；同时利用相位观察法进一步验证了上述的后向波特性，从而肯定了异向介质的存在. 关键词： 异向介质 宽频带 小单元 后向波特性     

Review of Broadband Metamaterial Absorbers: From Principles,Design Strategies,and Tunable Properties to Functional Applications

Metamaterial absorbers have been widely studied and continuously concerned owing to their excellent resonance features of ultra-thin thickness, light-weight, and high absorbance. Their applications, however, are typically restricted by the intrinsic dispersion of materials and strong resonant features of patterned arrays (mainly referring to narrow absorption bandwidth). It is, therefore essential to reassert the principles of building broadband metamaterial absorbers (BMAs). Herein, the research progress of BMAs from principles, design strategies, tunable properties to functional applications are comprehensively and deeply summarized. Physical principles behind broadband absorption are briefly discussed, typical design strategies in realizing broadband absorption are further emphasized, such as top-down lithography, bottom-up self-assembly, and emerging 3D printing technology. Diversified active components choices, including optical response, temperature response, electrical response, magnetic response, mechanical response, and multi-parameter responses, are reviewed in achieving dynamically tuned broadband absorption. Following this, the achievements of various interdisciplinary applications for BMAs in energy-harvesting, photodetectors, radar-IR dual stealth, bolometers, noise absorbing, imaging, and fabric wearable are summarized. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for future development of BMAs are discussed.     

基于超材料构建的PCB通信信道芯片无线互连通信研究

提出了一种基于蘑菇型电磁超材料构建的PCB(Printed Circuit Board)的芯片间/芯片内射频通信设计模型.该设计用单极子天线模拟芯片管脚,利用PCB介质作为通信信道,并填充一层超材料吸收多径传播中部分电磁波,降低天线回波损耗和改善天线之间相关度.分析电磁波在PCB介质内传播途径及超材料对其影响.对发射天线输入频率为20GHz不归零伪随机二进制信号,接收天线输出信号的眼图清晰端正.从频域和时域结果分析表明芯片-PCB无线互连可行,而且超材料能够明显改善通信信道而提高信号传输质量.     

Threshold flexoelectric deformations in homeotropic nematic layers

Elastic deformations of nematic liquid crystal layers subjected to a d.c. electric field were studied numerically. The flexoelectric properties of the nematic material and the presence of ionic space charge were taken into account. Homeotropic alignment with finite surface anchoring strength was assumed. The director orientation and the electric potential distribution were calculated; the space charge density was also determined. It was found that the threshold voltage strongly depended on the parameters of the system. In particular, a threshold as low as a few tenths of a volt occurred under suitable circumstances. In the case of a negative dielectric anisotropy, Δ ε, such low values of the threshold voltage existed when the ion concentration was sufficiently high, and given sufficiently large magnitudes of the flexoelectric coefficients and a sufficiently small anchoring energy. If the ion concentration was low or if the flexoelectric coefficients were small or if the surface anchoring was strong, the threshold was equal to several volts. In the case of positive dielectric anisotropy, the threshold amounted to several tenths of a volt for a weakly anisotropic and highly conductive material. If the dielectric anisotropy was sufficiently high or if the ion concentration was sufficiently low, the threshold voltage increased with Δ ε and reached tens of volts. These results can be explained as the effect of the inhomogeneous electric field arising in the vicinity of the surfaces, due to the ionic space charge redistributed by the external voltage. They are qualitatively consistent with earlier experiments which show the effect of the ion concentration on the elastic deformations in flexoelectric nematics. They correspond also with theoretical results concerning the effect of the electric field produced by the surface polarization or by the adsorption of ions.     

Tunable negative index metamaterial employing in-plane switching mode at terahertz frequencies

We analysed the response of a tunable liquid crystal metamaterial transducer in the terahertz frequency range. Tunability of scattering parameters is achieving by an in-plane switching (IPS) effect. The metamaterial structure is based on Ω-shape resonators. A full-wave analysis technique based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was performed using the QuickWave 3D electromagnetic solver. Terahertz transmission properties of the metamaterial structure can be controlled by the director of the liquid crystal layer. The effective refractive index for operation frequency varies from negative to positive values. A novel approach to switching of metamaterial transducer by IPS mode is presented.     

Nonlinear properties of the lattice network-based nonlinear CRLH transmission lines

The nonlinear properties of lattice network-based(LNB) composite right-/left-handed transmission lines(CRLH TLs)with nonlinear capacitors are experimentally investigated.Harmonic generation,subharmonic generation,and parametric excitation are clearly observed in an unbalanced LNB CRLH TL separately.While the balanced design of the novel nonlinear TL shows that the subharmonic generation and parametric processes can be suppressed,and almost the same power level of the higher harmonics can be achieved over a wide bandwidth range,which are difficult to find in conventional CRLH TLs.     

田字形地震超材料甚低频宽带隙机理

在地球中传播的地震波主要有体波和表面波,而表面波中Rayleigh波对建筑物造成的破坏最为强烈。针对Rayleigh波的振动控制,提出一种田字形超材料结构。相比于传统的地震超材料,这种超材料屏障是由外部口字形框体内部嵌套十字形柱体组成,形成4个可填充区域,其外部框体采用部分埋入的方式,具有高强度、强稳定性、填充方式灵活的特点。应用有限元法计算了田字形超材料的能带结构和传输特性,并通过分析带隙边界处模态振型可知,带隙的打开是由于柱体的局域共振。结合带隙机理可知,柱体结构中土壤填充量不同可改变柱体的质量,形成不同的谐振频率,产生甚低频带隙。为进一步拓宽带隙,设计研究了正、负梯度的质量填充方式,均可得到3.3~13.1 Hz甚低频宽带隙,在谐振频率范围内两者的隔震方式分别为Rayleigh波彩虹捕获和Rayleigh波到体波的转化。最后,采用EI-Centro地震波对填充屏障进行了时程验证,加速度最大幅值衰减超过80%,为地震超材料在减震隔震方面应用提供了新的设计思路和方法。