Broadband Switching Nonlinear Metamaterial

Abstract

In this letter, we present a nonlinear metamaterial capable of transitioning between a broadband reflective and broadband nonreflective state depending on the incident power level. Below the activation voltage, broadband reflectivity is created by forbidding propagation through the metamaterial as a result of the effective permittivity and permeability having different signs. Above the activation voltage, reflection is suppressed by matching the effective permittivity and permeability. Full-wave simulations are performed to analyze the electromagnetic characteristics of the structure, with experimental results presented at S-band frequencies in a WR-284 waveguide. These measurements demonstrate a 10 dB reduction in reflected amplitude over an 18% bandwidth, a 3-dB reduction over a greater than 30% bandwidth, and a maximum difference in reflection of nearly 42 dB.