The Physics

of Metamaterials By Ryan Humphreys

Credit: Photograph of FR4 Cloak
by David Schurig[3]
Metamaterials:
“Meta”~ Greek for ‘beyond’ or ‘advance’

Metamaterials are synthetic materials developed to exhibit

properties that aren’t found naturally. With a size much
smaller than the wavelength of the light it influences [1], their
structure consists of a lattice of different materials (Like
copper, silk, silicon) that have varying refractive indices.

Each singular repeating component that makes up the

structure is called a “meta-atom”.

The most famous characteristic present in metamaterials is

their ability to alter electromagnetic waves. Absorption,
enhancement, and bending of light are the key focuses for
metamaterial engineering; tangible applications of the
technology are still limited, but the ‘Z Antenna” (Figure 1) (by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST)), made of meta-atoms that absorb and re-emit waves at Figure 1[5]
a tiny scale[, and super lenses, are the most promising leads in Z Antenna - NIST
applied use of the, until recently, predominantly theory rooted
technology.
How Metamaterials Work
Unlike materials like glass that have a single constant atomic structure that give it
properties like its refractive index, metamaterials feature an array of different
materials that can alter a wavefront in a multitude of ways.

Their structure consists of a lattice of meta-atoms (Artificial components) made of

dielectric scatterers[8] with a size much smaller than the wavelength of the light it
influences[1]. The effect these tiny pieces have on a macroscopic scale depends on the
specific arrangement that the meta-atoms hold. Glass as a comparison, is only used in
lenses to focus waves of light onto a focal point by bending it through refraction, while
metamaterials can have a different refractive index at any one point in the lattice so
could be used to create completely flat lenses, or a material with a negative
refractive index.
Convex Glass Lens Effect on a Wavefront

SchoolPhysics (2018) Lenses and Waves Figure 2 [Online] Last Accessed 04/0/18
http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age16-19/Optics/Refraction/text/Lenses_and_waves/index.html/
Metamaterial’s effect on
a wavefront

This diagram shows light incident on a

metamaterial lattice of materials X and
Y.

X & Y meta-atoms effect the resultant

wavefront differently. The end result is
potentially far more complex wave
output than what was originally input.[2]

This technology can be used to

selectively absorb or re-emit waves for
use in signal receivers.
Creating a Negative Refractive Index
Metamaterial
To create a negative-index material we need (Figure 1):

• A permeability, µ < 0

• A permittivity, ε < 0
Figure 1
Each quadrant has its own
optical properties
Split ring resonators arranged in an array achieves a
negative permeability, while a long column of conductive
metal (like a wire) will induce a negative permittivity [9].
Embed these both into a subwavelength (<400nm) size circuit
board lattice, and a negative-index material is made

Figure 2 shows a diagram of a microscopic structure capable

of a negative refractive index Figure 2
Negative refractive index
material[10]
Applications
Z Antenna - NIST[5]
Super lenses
Conventional lenses suffer from the diffraction limit, where the light used to
observe an object has diffracted too far to be able to be used to image anything
smaller. This limit is ≈200nm. [12]

Super lenses apply the property that metamaterials are able to produce negative
refractive index structures (Figure 1). Metamaterials with both negative
permeability and negative permittivity simultaneously are able to achieve this.
We can attain negative permeability by having split ring resonators in a
periodic array[9], and reach negative permittivity by adding a metal columns (Like Figure 1[6]
wires) able to conduct electricity. These components would have to be at a
subwavelength size, combined together inside the meta-atoms (Figure 3).

Negative refractive indices would help correct diffracting waves back to their
original path (Figure 2), allowing resolutions far smaller than the current limit
of 200nm, and maybe even small enough to compete with current electron
microscope technology.

Nanotechnology, especially, will greatly benefit from super lenses, as it would

allow imaging of miniscule subjects without the need of a vacuum that kills
viruses and bacteria

Figure 2[7]
How metamaterials can be
used to lower diffraction
Figure 3[10]
limit
Negative refractive index
material
Cloaking
When light rays hit an object, they scatter. This phenomenon forms the basis of our
eyesight, the rays that are reflected are what form the image we see.

By refracting the rays of E.M waves, it is possible to guide light from one point, around an
object, and into a second point on the same plane as the first without any of the scattering
that allows us to actually see it; this effectively ‘cloaks’ that object.

Source: Institute of Physics (2018) Metamaterials [Online] Last Accessed 3/07/18:

http://www.iop.org/resources/topic/archive/metamaterials/

Duke University successfully proved the concept with the FR4 Cloak that managed to bend
microwave radiation around a central point, this worked as the wavelength of the
microwave radiation used was centimetres in length.

Issues arise when using the concept on visible light as the spaces in the structure of the
lattice would have to be smaller than 400nm, which is hard to attain due to its minute size
Conclusion
Metamaterials, while requiring further research in order to reach their full
potential, have fascinating possibilities. We shall definitely see the
widespread use of these tiny structures in our labs of the future to help
explore the depths of biology and nanotechnology using super lenses, or in the
military where invisibility cloaks could be used on tanks or even personnel in
the field.