Metamaterials with discrete nonlinear responses for high-power microwave applications

Periodic structures have a wide range of applications at RF and microwave frequencies. In recent years, with the emergence of the field of metamateirals, they are receiving even more attention, since most metamateirals are implemented using periodic structures with sub-wavelength periods. Metamaterials capable of operating at high-power microwave levels have also been investigated for applications ranging from new HPM sources to anti-HPM devices and frequency selective surfaces. At high-power levels, however, these devices are susceptible to breakdown. Breakdown events in these devices are accompanied by the creation of plasmas. The nature of this plasma determines how the response of the device changes in the event of a breakdown.