METAMATERIALS
METAMATERIALS
Critique and Alternatives
BEN A. MUNK
Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus
The Ohio State University
Life Fellow IEEE
A JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC., PUBLICATION
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Munk, Ben (Benedikt A.)
Metamaterials : critique and alternatives / Ben A. Munk.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-37704-8 (cloth)
1. Metamaterials. 2. Antennas (Electronics)–Materials. 3. Electromagnetism. 4. Radio
wave propagation–Mathematical models. 5. Antennas (Electronics)–Experiments. 6. Negative
refraction. 7. Negative refractive index. 8. Left Handed Materials. 9 Time Advance.
I. Title.
TK7871.6.M855 2008
621.3028
4—dc22
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2008030315
This book is dedicated to true science.
The constant support of the ElectroScience Laboratory and my
family—in particular my wife, Aase—is deeply appreciated.
A NOTE ON METAMATERIALS
Metamaterials are artificially made materials that do not exist in nature.
The term derives from the Greek word meta, meaning beyond. More
specifically, metamaterials are composites that have a desired combina-
tion of properties that cannot be obtained by combining the properties of
their constituents. The term was coined in 1999 by a colleague and good
friend, Rodger Walser, of the University of Texas–Austin, now at Meta-
material, Inc. At my request he graciously provided me with the following
definition:
Metamaterials are macroscopic composites having man-made,
three-dimensional, periodic cellular architecture designed to
produce an optimized combination, not available in nature, of
two or more responses to specific excitation.
I want everybody to understand that I wholeheartedly support a devel-
opment of metamaterials in general. Only when unrealistic features, in
particular a negative index of refraction, are pursued, must I strongly
object. Academia, industry, and most urgently, students deserve an honest
and frank discussion on this subject. This book has as its focus such a
contribution.
B.A.M.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
1 Why Periodic Structures Cannot Synthesize Negative
Indices of Refraction
xiii
xv
1
2
1
Overview 1
Background
Introduction
1.1.1
1.1.2
Current Assumptions Regarding Veselago’s Medium 2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.2.3
Negative Index of Refraction 2
Phase Advance when n1 < 0 3
Evanescent Waves Grow with Distance for
n1 < 0 3
The Field and Phase Vectors Form a Left-Handed
Triplet for n1 < 0
1.2.4
1.1
1.2
1.3
3
Fantastic Designs Could Be Realized if Veselago’s Material
Existed 5
1.4 How Veselago’s Medium Is Envisioned To Be Synthesized
Using Periodic Structures
6
1.5 How Does a Periodic Structure Refract? 9
Infinite Arrays
1.5.1
1.5.2 What About Finite Arrays?
9
15
1.6 On the Field Surrounding an Infinite Periodic Structure
of Arbitrary Wire Elements Located in One or More
Arrays
1.6.1
1.6.2
1.6.3
16
Single Array of Elements with One Segment
Single Array of Elements with Two Segments
Single Array of Elements with an Arbitrary Number
of Segments
On Grating Lobes and Backward-Traveling Waves
20
Two Arrays of Elements with an Arbitrary Number
of Segments
1.6.4
1.6.5
16
18
19
21
vii
viii
CONTENTS
1.6.6
Can Arrays of Wires Ever Change the Direction
of the Incident Field?
23
1.7 On Increasing Evanescent Waves: A Fatal Misconception
1.8
23
Preliminary Conclusion: Synthesizing Veselago’s Medium
by a Periodic Structure Is Not Feasible 24
1.9 On Transmission-Line Dispersion: Backward-Traveling
Waves
1.9.1
1.9.2
26
Transmission Lines
Periodic Structures
26
30
1.10 Regarding Veselago’s Conclusion: Are There Deficiencies?
32
1.10.1 Background
1.10.2 Veselago’s Argument for a Negative Index
32
of Refraction 32
1.10.3 Veselago’s Flat Lens: Is It Really Realistic? 34
1.11 Conclusions
1.12 Common Misconceptions
35
38
1.12.1 Artificial Dielectrics: Do They Really Refract?
38
1.12.2 Real Dielectrics: How Do They Refract? 40
1.12.3 On the E- and H -Fields
1.12.4 On Concentric Split-Ring Resonators
42
1.12.5 What Would Veselago Have Asked if . . .
1.12.6 On “Magic” Structures
43
41
42
References 44
2 On Cloaks and Reactive Radomes
47
2.1
2.2
2.3
47
Concept
47
Prior Art 47
Alternative Explanation
Alternative Design 50
Cloaks
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5 What Can You Really Expect from a Cloak?
Reactive Radomes
2.2.1
Infinite Planar Array with and Without Reactive
Radome
Line Arrays and Single Elements
2.2.2
Common Misconceptions
2.3.1 Misinterpretation of Calculated Results 55
51
54
51
55
48
50