In this paper we show that arrays of core-shell nanoparticles function as effective thin absorbers of light. In contrast to known metamaterial absorbers, the introduced absorbers are formed by single planar arrays of spherical inclusions and enable f
ull absorption of light incident on either or both sides of the array. We demonstrate possibilities for realizing different kinds of symmetric absorbers, including resonant, ultra-broadband, angularly selective, and all-angle absorbers. The physical principle behind these designs is explained considering balanced electric and magnetic responses of unit cells. Photovoltaic devices and thermal emitters are the two most important potential applications of the proposed designs.
For two electrically small nonreciprocal scatterers an analytical electromagnetic model of polarizabilities is developed. Both particles are bianisotropic: the so-called Tellegen-omega particle and moving-chiral particle. Analytical results are compa
red to the full-wave numerical simulations. Both models satisfy to main physical restrictions and leave no doubts in the possibility to realize these particles experimentally. This paper is a necessary step towards applications of nonreciprocal bianisotropic particles such as perfect electromagnetic isolators, twist polarizers, thin-sheet phase shifters, and other devices.
The least upper bounds of the powers extracted and scattered by bi-anisotropic particles are investigated analytically. A rigorous derivation for particles having invertible polarizability tensors is presented, and the particles with singular polariz
ability tensors that have been reported in the literature are treated explicitly. The analysis concludes that previous upper bounds presented for isotropic particles can be extrapolated to bi-anisotropic particles. In particular, it is shown that neither nonreciprocal nor magnetoelectric coupling phenomena can further increase those upper bounds on the extracted and scattered powers. The outcomes are illustrated further with approximate circuit model examples of two dipole antennas connected via a generic lossless network.
In this paper, we present a method to retrieve tensor polarizabilities of general bi-anisotropic particles from their far-field responses to plane-wave illuminations. The necessary number of probing excitations and the directions where the scattered
fields need to be calculated or measured have been found. When implemented numerically, the method does not require any spherical harmonic expansion nor direct calculation of dipole moments, but only calculations of co- and cross-polarized scattering cross sections for a number of plane-wave excitations. With this simple approach, the polarizabilities can be found also from experimentally measured cross sections. The method is exemplified considering two bi-anisotropic particles, a reciprocal omega particle and a non-reciprocal particle containing a ferrite inclusion coupled to metal strips.
We propose an effective route to fully control the phase of plane waves reflected from electrically (optically) thin sheets. This becomes possible using engineered artificial full-reflection layers (metamirrors) as arrays of electrically small resona
nt bi-anisotropic particles. In this scenario, fully reflecting mirrors do not contain any continuous ground plane, but only arrays of small particles. Bi-anisotropic omega coupling is required to get asymmetric response in reflection phase for plane waves incident from the opposite sides of the composite mirror. It is shown that with this concept one can independently tailor the phase of electromagnetic waves reflected from both sides of the mirror array.
In this paper we introduce the concept of metasurfaces which are fully transparent when looking from one of the two sides of the sheet and have controllable functionalities for waves hitting the opposite side (one-way transparent sheets). We address
the question on what functionalities are allowed, considering limitations due to reciprocity and passivity. In particular, we have found that it is possible to realize one-way transparent sheets which have the properties of a twist-polarizer in reflection or transmission when illuminated from the other side. Also one-way transparent sheets with controllable co-polarized reflection and transmission from the opposite side are feasible. We show that particular non-reciprocal magneto-electric coupling inside the sheet is necessary to realize lossless non-active transparent sheets. Furthermore, we derive the required polarizabilities of constituent dipole particles such that the layers composed of them form one-way transparent sheets. We conclude with design and simulations of an example of a nonreciprocal one-way transparent sheet functioning as an isolating twist-polarizer.
Here we introduce the concept of optimal particles for strong interactions with electromagnetic fields. We assume that a particle occupies a given electrically small volume in space and study the required optimal relations between the particle polari
zabilities. In these optimal particles, the inclusion shape and material are chosen so that the particles extract the maximum possible power from given incident fields. It appears that for different excitation scenarios the optimal particles are bianisotropic chiral, omega, moving, and Tellegen particles. The optimal dimensions of the resonance canonical chiral and omega particles are found analytically. Such optimal particles have extreme properties in scattering (for example, zero backscattering or invisibility). Planar arrays of optimal particles possess extreme properties in reflection and transmission (e.g., total absorption or magnetic-wall resonance), and volumetric composites of optimal particles realize, for example, such extreme materials as the chiral nihility medium.
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.
