Metamaterials are typically engineered by arranging a set of small scatterers or apertures in a regular array throughout a region of space, thus obtaining some desirable bulk electromagnetic behavior. The desired property is often one that is not normally found naturally (negative refractive index, near-zero index, etc.). Over the past ten years, metamaterials have moved from being simply a theoretical concept to a field with developed and marketed applications. Three-dimensional metamaterials can be extended by arranging electrically small scatterers or holes into a two-dimensional pattern at a surface or interface. This surface version of a metamaterial has been given the name metasurface (the term metafilm has also been employed for certain structures). For many applications, metasurfaces can be used in place of metamaterials. Metasurfaces have the advantage of taking up less physical space than do full three-dimensional metamaterial structures; consequently, metasurfaces offer the possibility of less-lossy structures. In this overview paper, we discuss the theoretical basis by which metasurfaces should be characterized, and discuss their various applications. We will see how metasurfaces are distinguished from conventional frequency-selective surfaces. Metasurfaces have a wide range of potential applications in electromagnetics (ranging from low microwave to optical frequencies), including: (1) controllable “smart” surfaces, (2) miniaturized cavity resonators, (3) novel wave-guiding structures, (4) angular-independent surfaces, (5) absorbers, (6) biomedical devices, (7) terahertz switches, and (8) fluid-tunable frequency-agile materials, to name only a few. In this review, we will see that the development in recent years of such materials and/or surfaces is bringing us closer to realizing the exciting speculations made over one hundred years ago by the work of Lamb, Schuster, and Pocklington, and later by Mandel'shtam and Veselago.

An Overview of the Theory and Applications of Metasurfaces: The Two-Dimensional Equivalents of Metamaterials

In this paper, a new approach for the development of planar metamaterial structures is developed. For this purpose, split-ring resonators (SRRs) and complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs) coupled to planar transmission lines are investigated. The electromagnetic behavior of these elements, as well as their coupling to the host transmission line, are studied, and analytical equivalent-circuit models are proposed for the isolated and coupled SRRs/CSRRs. From these models, the stopband/passband characteristics of the analyzed SRR/CSRR loaded transmission lines are derived. It is shown that, in the long wavelength limit, these stopbands/passbands can be interpreted as due to the presence of negative/positive values for the effective /spl epsiv/ and /spl mu/ of the line. The proposed analysis is of interest in the design of compact microwave devices based on the metamaterial concept.

Equivalent-circuit models for split-ring resonators and complementary split-ring resonators coupled to planar transmission lines

In the past few years, new developments in structured electromagnetic materials have given rise to negative refractive index materials which have both negative dielectric permittivity and negative magnetic permeability in some frequency ranges. The idea of a negative refractive index opens up new conceptual frontiers in photonics. One much-debated example is the concept of a perfect lens that enables imaging with sub-wavelength image resolution. Here we review the fundamental concepts and ideas of negative refractive index materials. First we present the ideas of structured materials or meta-materials that enable the design of new materials with a negative dielectric permittivity, negative magnetic permeability and negative refractive index. We discuss how a variety of resonance phenomena can be utilized to obtain these materials in various frequency ranges over the electromagnetic spectrum. The choice of the wave-vector in negative refractive index materials and the issues of dispersion, causality and energy transport are analysed. Various issues of wave propagation including nonlinear effects and surface modes in negative refractive materials (NRMs) are discussed. In the latter part of the review, we discuss the concept of a perfect lens consisting of a slab of a NRM. This perfect lens can image the far-field radiative components as well as the nearfield evanescent components, and is not subject to the traditional diffraction limit. Different aspects of this lens such as the surface modes acting as the mechanism for the imaging of the evanescent waves, the limitations imposed by dissipation and dispersion in the negative refractive media, the generalization of this lens to optically complementary media and the possibility of magnification of the near-field images are discussed. Recent experimental developments verifying these ideas are briefly covered. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

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Physics of negative refractive index materials

This paper develops a quasi-analytical and self-consistent model to compute the polarizabilities of split ring resonators (SRRs). An experimental setup is also proposed for measuring the magnetic polarizability of these structures. Experimental data are provided and compared with theoretical results computed following the proposed model. By using a local field approach, the model is applied to the obtaining of the dispersion characteristics of discrete negative magnetic permeability and left-handed metamaterials. Two types of SRRs, namely, the so-called edge coupled- and broadside coupled- SRRs, have been considered. A comparative analysis of these two structures has been carried out in connection with their suitability for the design of metamaterials. Advantages and disadvantages of both structures are discussed.

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Comparative analysis of edge- and broadside- coupled split ring resonators for metamaterial design - theory and experiments

In this letter a super-compact stopband microstrip structure is proposed. The frequency gap is produced by an array of complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs)-a concept proposed here for the first time-etched on the ground plane. This behavior is interpreted as due to the presence of a negative effective dielectric permittivity in the vicinity of resonance. The resulting device produces a deep rejection frequency band with sharp cutoff, and a pass band that exhibits very low losses and good matching. Due to the sub-lambda operation of CSRRs, the electrical size of the device is very small.

Effective negative-/spl epsiv/ stopband microstrip lines based on complementary split ring resonators

At microwave frequencies, hollow metallic waveguides behave in certain aspects as a ``one-dimensional plasma.'' This feature will be advantageously used for simulating the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves in left-handed metamaterials provided the hollow waveguide is periodically loaded with split ring resonators. It will be shown that EM transmission in this structure is feasible within a certain frequency band even if the transverse dimensions of the waveguide are much smaller than the associated free-space wavelength. This effect can be qualitatively and quantitatively explained by the left-handed metamaterial theory, thus providing a new experimental validation for such a theory.

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Left-Handed-Media Simulation and Transmission of EM Waves in Subwavelength Split-Ring-Resonator-Loaded Metallic Waveguides

A metallic planar particle, that will be called spiral resonator (SR), is introduced as a useful artificial atom for artificial magnetic media design and fabrication. A simple theoretical model which provides the most relevant properties and parameters of the SR is presented. The model is validated by both electromagnetic simulation and experiments. The applications of SR's include artificial negative magnetic permeability media (NMPM) and left-handed-media (LHM) design. The main advantages of SR's for such purpose are small electrical size at resonance, absence of magnetoelectric coupling (thus avoiding bianisotropic effects in the continuous medium made of these particles), and easy fabrication. Experimental confirmation of NMPM and LHM behavior using SR's is also reported.

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Artificial magnetic metamaterial design by using spiral resonators

In this paper, we discuss in detail the transmission characteristics of composite right/left-handed transmission lines based on complementary split-rings resonators. Specifically, the necessary conditions to obtain a continuous transition between the left- and right-handed bands (balanced case) are pointed out. It is found that very wide bands can be obtained by balancing the line. The application of this technique to the design of very wideband and compact filters is illustrated by means of two examples. One of them is based on the hybrid approach, where a microstrip line is loaded with complementary split-rings resonators, series gaps, and grounded stubs; the other one is a bandpass filter, also based on a balanced line, but in this case, by using only complementary split-rings resonators and series gaps (purely resonant-type approach). As will be seen, very small dimensions and good performance are obtained. The proposed filters are useful for ultra-wideband systems.

Composite Right/Left-Handed Metamaterial Transmission Lines Based on Complementary Split-Rings Resonators and Their Applications to Very Wideband and Compact Filter Design

This paper is focused on the application of complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs) to the suppression of the common (even) mode in microstrip differential transmission lines. By periodically and symmetrically etching CSRRs in the ground plane of microstrip differential lines, the common mode can be efficiently suppressed over a wide band whereas the differential signals are not affected. Throughout the paper, we present and discuss the principle for the selective common-mode suppression, the circuit model of the structure (including the models under even- and odd-mode excitation), the strategies for bandwidth enhancement of the rejected common mode, and a methodology for common-mode filter design. On the basis of the dispersion relation for the common mode, it is shown that the maximum achievable rejection bandwidth can be estimated. Finally, theory is validated by designing and measuring a differential line and a balanced bandpass filter with common-mode suppression, where double-slit CSRRs (DS-CSRRs) are used in order to enhance the common-mode rejection bandwidth. Due to the presence of DS-CSRRs, the balanced filter exhibits more than 40 dB of common-mode rejection within a 34% bandwidth around the filter pass band.

Jesus Martel

Papers

Comparative analysis of edge- and broadside- coupled split ring resonators for metamaterial design - theory and experiments

Left-Handed-Media Simulation and Transmission of EM Waves in Subwavelength Split-Ring-Resonator-Loaded Metallic Waveguides

Artificial magnetic metamaterial design by using spiral resonators

Composite Right/Left-Handed Metamaterial Transmission Lines Based on Complementary Split-Rings Resonators and Their Applications to Very Wideband and Compact Filter Design

Common-Mode Suppression in Microstrip Differential Lines by Means of Complementary Split Ring Resonators: Theory and Applications