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.

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Controlling Electromagnetic Fields

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.

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Metamaterial Electromagnetic Cloak at Microwave Frequencies

We present the design for an absorbing metamaterial (MM) with near unity absorbance A(omega). Our structure consists of two MM resonators that couple separately to electric and magnetic fields so as to absorb all incident radiation within a single unit cell layer. We fabricate, characterize, and analyze a MM absorber with a slightly lower predicted A(omega) of 96%. Unlike conventional absorbers, our MM consists solely of metallic elements. The substrate can therefore be optimized for other parameters of interest. We experimentally demonstrate a peak A(omega) greater than 88% at 11.5 GHz.

Perfect metamaterial absorber.

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

A lithographically patterned inductive-capacitive resonator is described that has a strong electric response. This resonator can be used to construct metamaterials with desired positive or negative permittivity. Such materials provide an alternative to wire media, and have the benefit of not requiring continuous current paths between unit cells. A planar medium composed of these resonators was simulated, fabricated, and measured in the microwave frequency range.

Electric-field-coupled resonators for negative permittivity metamaterials

Negative refraction can occur at the interface between vacuum and an indefinite medium—an anisotropic medium for which not all elements of the permittivity and permeability tensors have the same sign. We show experimentally and via simulations that a metamaterial composed of split ring resonators, designed to provide a permeability equal to −1 along the longitudinal axis, will redirect s-polarized electromagnetic waves from a nearby source to a partial focus. The dispersion characteristics of indefinite media prohibit the possibility of true aplanatic points for a planar slab; however, by contouring the surfaces aplanatic points may be realized, as well as other geometrical optical behavior.

Partial focusing of radiation by a slab of indefinite media

Metamaterial structures designed to have simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability are known as left-handed materials. Their complexity and our understanding of their properties have advanced rapidly to the point where direct applications are now viable. We present a radial gradient-index lens with an index of refraction ranging from −2.67 (edge) to −0.97 (center). Experimentally, we find that the lens can produce field intensities at the focus that are greater than that of the incident plane wave. These results are obtained at 10.3GHz and in excellent agreement with full-wave simulations. We also demonstrate an advanced fabrication technique using conventional printed circuit board technology which offers significant design, mechanical, and cost advantages over other microwave lens constructions.

Free-space microwave focusing by a negative-index gradient lens

We have designed, produced, and experimentally characterized $2.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mm}$ thick composite panels having negative refractive index between 8.4 and $9.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GHz}$. The composite metamaterial is fabricated using conventional commercial multilayer circuit-board lithography; three-dimensional physical (as opposed to electromagnetic) structure is introduced by the use of vias to form sections of the scattering elements in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board surfaces. From scattering parameter measurements, we show that the complex permittivity, permeability, index, and impedance of the composite can be unambiguously determined. The measurements enable the quantitative determination of the negative index band and associated losses. The extracted material parameters are shown to be in excellent agreement with simulation results.

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Fabrication and characterization of a negative-refractive-index composite metamaterial

Metamaterial structures designed to have simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability are known as left-handed materials. Their complexity and our understanding of their properties have advanced rapidly to the point where direct applications are now viable. We present a radial gradient-index (GRIN) lens with an index-of-refraction ranging from -2.67(edge) to -0.97(center). Experimentally, we find the lens can produce field intensities at the focus that are greater than that of the incident plane wave. These results are obtained at 10.45 GHz and in excellent agreement with full-wave simulations. This lens is a demonstrate an newly pioneered advanced fabrication technique using conventional printed circuit board (PCB) technology which offers significant design, mechanical, and cost advantages over other microwave lens constructions.

/pdf/free-space-microwave-focusing-by-a-negative-index-gradient-2q784ma72q.pdf

Patrick Rye

Papers

Partial focusing of radiation by a slab of indefinite media

Free-space microwave focusing by a negative-index gradient lens

Fabrication and characterization of a negative-refractive-index composite metamaterial

Free space microwave focusing by a negative-index gradient lens

Design and Measurement of Anisotropic Metamaterials that Exhibit Negative Refraction