We consider single-layer arrays of electrically small lossy bi-anisotropic particles that completely absorb electromagnetic waves at normal incidence. Required conditions for electromagnetic properties of bi-anisotropic particles have been identified in the most general case of uniaxial reciprocal and nonreciprocal particles. We consider the design possibilities offered by the particles of all four fundamental classes of bianisotropic inclusions: reciprocal chiral and omega particles and nonreciprocal Tellegen and moving particles. We also study the reflection/transmission properties of asymmetric structures with different properties when illuminated from the opposite sides of the sheet. It has been found that it is possible to realize single-layer grids which exhibit the total absorption property when illuminated from one side but are totally transparent when illuminated from the other side (an ultimately thin isolator). Other possible properties are co-polarized or twist polarized reflection from the side opposite to the absorbing one. Finally, we discuss possible approaches to practical realization of particles with the properties required for single-layer perfect absorbers and other proposed devices.
We have shown both experimentally and theoretically that polarization-independent broad-band absorption of electromagnetic waves by an overdense plasma, caused by surface plasmon-polaritons (SPP) excitation, can be achieved due to combination of two factors: a non-zero angle of incidence and a two-dimensional circular diffraction grating placed at a properly chosen distance in front of the plasma boundary. Direct detection of SPP has been achieved for the first time using a miniature antenna imbedded in the plasma.
We show both theoretically and experimentally that an electromagnetic wave can be totally absorbed by an overdense plasma when a subwavelength diffraction grating is placed in front of the plasma surface. The absorption is due to dissipation of surface plasma waves (plasmons-polaritons) that have been resonantly excited by the evanescent component of the diffracted electromagnetic wave. The developed theoretical model allows one to determine the conditions for the total absorption.
We examine several ways to manipulate the loss in electromagnetic cloaks, based on transformation electromagnetics. It is found that, by utilizing inherent electric and magnetic losses of metamaterials, perfect wave absorption can be achieved based on several popular designs of electromagnetic cloaks. A practical implementation of the absorber, consisting of ten discrete layers of metamaterials, is proposed. The new devices demonstrate super-absorptivity over a moderate wideband range, suitable for both microwave and optical applications. It is corroborated that the device is functional with a subwavelength thickness and, hence, advantageous compared to the conventional absorbers.
Optical properties of a metasurface which can be considered a monolayer of two classical uniaxial metamaterials, parallel-plate and nanorod arrays, are investigated. It is shown that such metasurface acts as an ultimately thin sub-50 nm wave plate. This is achieved via an interplay of epsilon-near-zero and epsilon-near-pole behavior along different axes in the plane of the metasurface allowing for extremely rapid phase difference accumulation in very thin metasurface layers. These effects are shown to not be disrupted by non-locality and can be applied to the design of ultrathin wave plates, Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements and plasmon-carrying optical torque wrench devices.
A low loss propagating electromagnetic wave is shown to exist at a gradual interface between two lossy conductive media. The electromagnetic frequency range of this phenomenon may span from UV optics to RF range. In particular, it is demonstrated that such a surface wave may be guided by a seafloor-seawater interface and it may be used in radio communication and imaging underwater. Similar surface waves may also be guided by various tissue boundaries inside a human body. For example, such surface wave solutions may exist at planar interfaces between skull bones and grey matter inside a human head at 6 GHz.