Metamaterials: main features and applications

Abstract

Electromagnetic properties of all materials existing in nature can be determined from two parameters, the magnetic permeability and the electrical permittivity, which allow us to characterize the response of any material when this interacts with an electromagnetic wave. In principle, there is no limit to the range of values that can be taken by these two parameters. Therefore, it is possible to design and construct materials with specific characteristics of electromagnetic response not found in nature will. These materials manufactured in the laboratory received the generic name of Metamaterials, and among them the well-known by LHM, are so called because the vectors of field of electromagnetic waves travelling in the interior are related by the rule of the left hand. The distinctive characteristic of the LHM is that for certain bands of frequency they present negative index of refraction with possible propagative modes. This phenomenon appears only if both parameters µ and ε, within these bands of frequencies are simultaneously negative. The purpose of this paper is to present the principles and foundations of these metamaterials so that it wakes up the interest of not specialized readers. © 2016. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex. Fis. Nat.