A broadband metasurface Luneburg lens for microwave surface waves

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AIP Publishing via the DOI in this recordA broadband planar microwave Luneburg lens made of a three-layer metasurface with hexagonal symmetry is presented. This metasurface supports a transverse-electric mode confined to the surface that presents very low dispersion and a stable mode index across a broad frequency band. This enables the lens to operate in the range of frequencies between 8 GHz and 19 GHz. The lens was manufactured using a lithographic technique with three 25 μm copper-coated Mylar sheets. The resulting device is only 75 μm thick, flexible, and light-weight.We acknowledge financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom via the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (Grant No. EP/L015331/1). J.P.G. wishes to thank Flann Microwave Ltd (Bodmin, UK) for additional financial support of her studentshi

Acoustic transmission through compound subwavelength slit arrays

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The angular dependence of the transmission of sound in air through four types of 2D slit-arrays formed of aluminium slats is explored, both experimentally and numerically. For a simple, subwavelength periodic slit-array, it is well known that Fabry-Perot-like wave-guide resonances, supported by the slit-cavities, hybridising with bound acoustic surface waves, result in ‘Enhanced Acoustic Transmission’ at frequencies determined by the length, width and separation of each slit-cavity. We demonstrate that altering the spacing or width of some of the slits to form a compound array (i.e. an array having a basis comprised of more than one slit) results in sharp dips in the transmission spectra, that may have a strong angular dependence. These features correspond to ‘phase resonances’, which have been studied extensively in the electromagnetic case. This geometry allows for additional near-field configurations compared to the simple array, whereby the field in adjacent cavities can be out-of-phase. Several types of compound slit-array are investigated; one such structure is optimised to minimise the effect of boundary-layer loss mechanisms present in each slit cavity, thereby achieving a deep, sharp transmission minimum in a broad maximumThe authors would like to thank the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratorty (DSTL) for their financial support and permission to publis

Theoretical and experimental exploration of finite sample size effects on the propagation of surface waves supported by slot arrays (article)

This is the final version of the article. Available from American Physical Society via the DOI in this record.The dataset associated with this article is in ORE at: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/28223The propagation of surface waves supported by a finite array of slots perforated on a zero thickness perfect electrically conducting screen is studied both experimentally and theoretically. To generate numerical results, the integral equation satisfied by the electric field in the slots is efficiently solved by means of Galerkin’s method, treating the metal as perfectly conducting. The finite size of the array along the direction of propagation creates a family of states of higher momentum and lower amplitude than the single mode for the corresponding infinite array. These modes are spaced in momentum with a periodicity inversely proportional to the length of the array. In addition, the finite width in the transverse direction produces a set of higher frequency modes due to this additional quantization. Both effects arising from finite sample length and width are explained by the theoretical model and validated experimentallyThe authors wish to acknowledge financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom, via the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (Grant No. EP/L015331/1). R.R.B. and F.M. acknowledge financial support from the Spanish MINECO (Grant No. TEC2013-41913-P) and the Spanish Junta de Andalucía (Grant No. P12-TIC-1435)

Theoretical and experimental exploration of finite sample size effects on the propagation of surface waves supported by slot arrays (article)

This is the final version of the article. Available from American Physical Society via the DOI in this record.The dataset associated with this article is in ORE at: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/28223The propagation of surface waves supported by a finite array of slots perforated on a zero thickness perfect electrically conducting screen is studied both experimentally and theoretically. To generate numerical results, the integral equation satisfied by the electric field in the slots is efficiently solved by means of Galerkin’s method, treating the metal as perfectly conducting. The finite size of the array along the direction of propagation creates a family of states of higher momentum and lower amplitude than the single mode for the corresponding infinite array. These modes are spaced in momentum with a periodicity inversely proportional to the length of the array. In addition, the finite width in the transverse direction produces a set of higher frequency modes due to this additional quantization. Both effects arising from finite sample length and width are explained by the theoretical model and validated experimentallyThe authors wish to acknowledge financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom, via the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (Grant No. EP/L015331/1). R.R.B. and F.M. acknowledge financial support from the Spanish MINECO (Grant No. TEC2013-41913-P) and the Spanish Junta de Andalucía (Grant No. P12-TIC-1435)

Direct mapping of surface plasmon dispersion using imaging scatterometry

© 2013 American Institute of PhysicsThe iso-frequency contours of diffracted surface plasmons on metallic bigratings have been directly recorded using imaging scatterometry. Metallic rectangular bigratings, formed of two “crossed” surface relief gratings, are used to demonstrate this measurement technique. By deepening one of the constituent gratings, control of the surface plasmon dispersion anisotropy is shown in the recorded iso-frequency maps. Collating the iso-frequency contours over a range of wavelengths from 500 nm to 700 nm leads to a three-dimensional map of the surface plasmon dispersion

Experimental observation of photonic nodal line degeneracies in metacrystals

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Nodal line semimetals (NLS) are three-dimensional (3D) crystals that support band crossings in the form of one-dimensional rings in the Brillouin zone. In the presence of spin-orbit coupling or lowered crystal symmetry, NLS may transform into Dirac semimetals, Weyl semimetals, or 3D topological insulators. In the photonics context, despite the realization of topological phases, such as Chern insulators, topological insulators, Weyl, and Dirac degeneracies, no experimental demonstration of photonic nodal lines (NLs) has been reported so far. Here, we experimentally demonstrate NL degeneracies in microwave cut-wire metacrystals with engineered negative bulk plasma dispersion. Both the bulk and surface states of the NL metamaterial are observed through spatial Fourier transformations of the scanned near-field distributions. Furthermore, we theoretically show that the NL degeneracy can transform into two Weyl points when gyroelectric materials are incorporated into the metacrystal design. Our findings may inspire further advances in topological photonics.This work was financially supported by the European Research Council Consolidator Grant (TOPOLOGICAL). S.Z. acknowledges support from the Royal Society, the Wolfson Foundation, Horizon 2020 Action Project No. 734578 (D-SPA), the Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2012-674), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/ J018473/1). B.Y. acknowledges support from the China Scholarship Council (201306110041). A.P.H. acknowledges financial support from EPSRC of the United Kingdom (Grant No. EP/L015331/1). Near-field scanning data were collected by VNA controlled with xyz-stage at G31 at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, United Kingdo

Superdirective Antennas of Coupled Helical Elements

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IEEE via the DOI in this recordUsing magnetically-coupled structures formed of subwavelength metallic helices, we demonstrate superdirective end-fire radiation in the low GHz frequency range. Numerical, experimental and analytical results are presented on superdirective dimers that are almost three times smaller compared to previously demonstrated dimers of split-ring-resonators (0.09λ compared with 0.25λ). Optimisation of such structures in terms of their size, directivity, efficiency and operational passband is demonstrated.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Microwave edge modes on a metasurface with glide symmetry

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the American Physical Society via the DOI in this record.In this work we study planar metasurfaces comprised of two layers of hexagonal arrays of circular metal patches. This two-layer geometry supports a bound surface wave that propagates along the x direction. In our study, each metasurface is infinitely periodic in one direction (x) but only a few periods wide in the orthogonal direction (y). Through experiments and modeling we find evidence of a localized edge mode whose existence is dependent on the relative alignment of the two layers. This edge mode is used to guide the propagation of electromagnetic energy around both triangular and hexagonal shapes.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Isotropic Backward Waves Supported by a Spiral Array Metasurface.

This is the final version of the article. Available from Nature Publishing Group via the DOI in this record.A planar metallic metasurface formed of spiral elements is shown to support an isotropic backward wave over a narrow band of microwave frequencies. The magnetic field of this left-handed mode is mapped experimentally using a near-field scanning technique, allowing the anti-parallel group and phase velocities to be directly visualised. The corresponding dispersion relation and isofrequency contours are obtained through Fourier transformation of the field images

The waveguiding of sound using lines of resonant holes

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordThe dispersion of an acoustic surface wave supported by a line of regularly spaced, open ended holes in an acrylic plate, is characterised by precise measurement of its localised acoustic fields. We illustrate the robust character of this surface wave and show its potential for control of sound by the acoustic waveguiding provided by a ring of regularly spaced holes.Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL