We present experimental scattering data at microwave frequencies on a structured metamaterial that exhibits a frequency band where the effective index of refraction (n) is negative. The material consists of a two-dimensional array of repeated unit cells of copper strips and split ring resonators on interlocking strips of standard circuit board material. By measuring the scattering angle of the transmitted beam through a prism fabricated from this material, we determine the effective n, appropriate to Snell's law. These experiments directly confirm the predictions of Maxwell's equations that n is given by the negative square root of epsilon.mu for the frequencies where both the permittivity (epsilon) and the permeability (mu) are negative. Configurations of geometrical optical designs are now possible that could not be realized by positive index materials.

/pdf/experimental-verification-of-a-negative-index-of-refraction-37hlxn3tta.pdf

Experimental Verification of a Negative Index of Refraction

We show that microstructures built from nonmagnetic conducting sheets exhibit an effective magnetic permeability /spl mu//sub eff/, which can be tuned to values not accessible in naturally occurring materials, including large imaginary components of /spl mu//sub eff/. The microstructure is on a scale much less than the wavelength of radiation, is not resolved by incident microwaves, and uses a very low density of metal so that structures can be extremely lightweight. Most of the structures are resonant due to internal capacitance and inductance, and resonant enhancement combined with compression of electrical energy into a very small volume greatly enhances the energy density at critical locations in the structure, easily by factors of a million and possibly by much more. Weakly nonlinear materials placed at these critical locations will show greatly enhanced effects raising the possibility of manufacturing active structures whose properties can be switched at will between many states.

/pdf/magnetism-from-conductors-and-enhanced-nonlinear-phenomena-2fpnoamwae.pdf

Magnetism from conductors and enhanced nonlinear phenomena

Using the freedom of design that metamaterials provide, we show how electromagnetic fields can be redirected at will and propose a design strategy. The conserved fields-electric displacement field D, magnetic induction field B, and Poynting vector B-are all displaced in a consistent manner. A simple illustration is given of the cloaking of a proscribed volume of space to exclude completely all electromagnetic fields. Our work has relevance to exotic lens design and to the cloaking of objects from electromagnetic fields.

/pdf/controlling-electromagnetic-fields-3ryxkryf1t.pdf

Controlling Electromagnetic Fields

Fundamentals of Plasmonics.- Electromagnetics of Metals.- Surface Plasmon Polaritons at Metal / Insulator Interfaces.- Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons at Planar Interfaces.- Imaging Surface Plasmon Polariton Propagation.- Localized Surface Plasmons.- Electromagnetic Surface Modes at Low Frequencies.- Applications.- Plasmon Waveguides.- Transmission of Radiation Through Apertures and Films.- Enhancement of Emissive Processes and Nonlinearities.- Spectroscopy and Sensing.- Metamaterials and Imaging with Surface Plasmon Polaritons.- Concluding Remarks.

/pdf/plasmonics-fundamentals-and-applications-4syb9877sr.pdf

Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Applications

A recently published theory has suggested that a cloak of invisibility is in principle possible, at least over a narrow frequency band. We describe here the first practical realization of such a cloak; in our demonstration, a copper cylinder was "hidden" inside a cloak constructed according to the previous theoretical prescription. The cloak was constructed with the use of artificially structured metamaterials, designed for operation over a band of microwave frequencies. The cloak decreased scattering from the hidden object while at the same time reducing its shadow, so that the cloak and object combined began to resemble empty space.

/pdf/metamaterial-electromagnetic-cloak-at-microwave-frequencies-1qj4zdgl8e.pdf

Metamaterial Electromagnetic Cloak at Microwave Frequencies

A photonic structure consisting of an extended 3D network of thin wires is shown to behave like a low density plasma of very heavy charged particles with a plasma frequency in the GHz range. We show that the analogy with metallic behaviour in the visible is rather complete, and the picture is confirmed by three independent investigations: analytic theory, computer simulation and experiments on a model structure. The fact that the wires are thin is crucial to the validity of the picture. This new composite dielectric, which has the property of negative below the plasma frequency, opens new possibilities for GHz devices.

/pdf/low-frequency-plasmons-in-thin-wire-structures-3kcl5hez6o.pdf

Low frequency plasmons in thin-wire structures

http://cmliris.harvard.edu/assets/science291_851.pdf

Functional Nanoscale Electronic Devices Assembled Using Silicon Nanowire Building Blocks

A structure (2) which exhibits magnetic properties when it receives electromagnetic radiation (20) is formed from an array of capacitive elements (4) each of which is smaller, and preferably much smaller, than the wavelength of the radiation. Each capacitive element (4) has a low resistance conducting path associated with it and is such that a magnetic component of the received electromagnetic radiation (20) induces an electrical current to flow around said path and through the associated element. The creation of internal magnetic fields generated by the flow of the induced electrical current gives rise to the structure's magnetic properties.

Structure with magnetic properties

A junction region for the laser diode may be improved to give an increased wavelength tuning range with improved thermal stability. The region has a homojunction structure that modifies the band structure to approximate that found in a type II superlattice. Up to half of the InGaAsP layer that nearest the p-InP region is n-type doped leaving the remainder with the original doping profile. This creates separate potential wells for electrons and holes in different parts of the InGaAsP layer. Also the barrier for electrons, but not for the holes, on the (p-InP)-(I-InGaAsP)-heterojunction may be increased by inserting a blocking layer of InAlAs, which is lattice matched to InP and InGaAsP, on the p-side between the above two materials.

D. J. Robbins

Papers

Magnetism from conductors and enhanced nonlinear phenomena

Low frequency plasmons in thin-wire structures

Functional Nanoscale Electronic Devices Assembled Using Silicon Nanowire Building Blocks

Structure with magnetic properties

Tuneable laser with improved suppression of auger recombination