We propose a novel way to achieve an exceptionally wide frequency range where metamaterial possesses negative effective permeability. This can be achieved by employing a nonlinear response of metamaterials. We demonstrate that, with an appropriate design, a frequency band exceeding 100% is available for a range of signal amplitudes. Our proposal provides a significant improvement over the linear approach, opening a road towards broadband negative refraction and its applications.

https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/113886/1/Wide-band%20negative%20permeability%20of%20nonlinear%20metamaterials.pdf

Wide-band negative permeability of nonlinear metamaterials

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)

/pdf/physics-of-negative-refractive-index-materials-8px8mj5u5i.pdf

Physics of negative refractive index materials

The design, fabrication, and testing of several metamaterials that exhibit double negative (DNG) medium properties at X band frequencies are reported. DNG media are materials in which the permittivity and permeability are both negative. Simulation and experimental results are given that demonstrate the realization of DNG metamaterials matched to free-space. The extraction of the effective permittivity and permeability for these metamaterials from reflection and transmission data at normal incidence is treated. It is shown that the metamaterials studied exhibit DNG properties in the frequency range of interest.

Design, fabrication, and testing of double negative metamaterials

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.

/pdf/comparative-analysis-of-edge-and-broadside-coupled-split-2t5zd6gi7u.pdf

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

Millimeter-wave wireless systems are emerging as a promising technology for meeting the exploding capacity requirements of wireless communication networks. Besides large bandwidths, small wavelengths at mm-wave lead to a high-dimensional spatial signal space, that can be exploited for significant capacity gains through high-dimensional multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques. In conventional MIMO approaches, optimal performance requires prohibitively high transceiver complexity. By combining the concept of beamspace MIMO communication with a hybrid analog-digital transceiver, continuous aperture phased (CAP) MIMO achieves near-optimal performance with dramatically lower complexity. This paper presents a framework for physically-accurate computational modeling and analysis of CAP-MIMO, and reports measurement results on a DLA-based prototype for multimode line-of-sight communication. The model, based on a critically sampled system representation, is used to demonstrate the performance gains of CAP-MIMO over state-of-the-art designs at mm-wave. For example, a CAP-MIMO system can achieve a spectral efficiency of 10-20 bits/s/Hz with a 17-31 dB power advantage over state-of-the-art, corresponding to a data rate of 10-200 Gbps with 1-10 GHz system bandwidth. The model is refined to analyze critical sources of power loss in an actual multimode system. The prototype-based measurement results closely follow the theoretical predictions, validating CAP-MIMO theory, and illustrating the utility of the model.

Beamspace MIMO for Millimeter-Wave Communications: System Architecture, Modeling, Analysis, and Measurements

A new "time-delay" scanner consists of a constrained wide-angle two-dimensional microwave lens with a straight front face in which lens elements connect arbitrary points on the inner and outer contours. The lens can operate at very short pulse lengths and can scan more beamwidths than any previously known device of its type. A phase analysis shows that this design has very small coma aberrations and that the lens can generate fractional degree beams. Criteria developed for selecting optimum lens parameters are given. The radiation patterns of an experimental model in which the lens elements consist of coaxial cables show the expected wide-angle characteristics. In further tests incremental scanning was obtained through the use of phase shifters in the coaxial lens elements. The design of symmetrical three-dimensional lenses is briefly discussed. A table of lens contour parameters is given for an optimum lens design with scan angle \alpha of 30\deg .

Wide-angle microwave lens for line source applications

A plasma in the absence of dc magnetic fields is representable, from the electromagnetic viewpoint, as a lossy dielectric with a complex index of refraction whose real part is less than one. Its electrical properties, such as propagation constant and intrinsic impedance, can be simulated by microwave structures, such as artificial dielectrics of lossy metallic rods, and by H - plane parallel-plate guides. Design techniques are presented for application to the modeling of plasma media. Examples include problems of radiation from antennas on a plasma-coated ground plane, with magnetic line sources and electric aperture radiators simulated by parallel-plate guides and rodded media, respectively. Radiation patterns of these models show good agreement with established theory. Waveguide measurements on the rodded media also confirm the expected propagation and impedance characteristics.

W. Rotman

Papers

Wide-angle microwave lens for line source applications

Plasma simulation by artificial dielectrics and parallel-plate media

Wide-Angle Microwave Lens for Line Source Applications