On Bandwidth Limitation and Operating Frequency in Artificial Magnetic Conductors

A perfect magnetic conductor (PMC) surface reflects electromagnetic waves without any change in the electric field phase. However, there is no natural PMC material. Instead, artificial magnetic conductors (AMCs) have been developed, which mimic the behavior of PMCs at a particular frequency. There has been an extensive amount of research to increase the bandwidth in different AMC structures and to characterize its operating frequency. Here, the general reflection characteristics from an AMC surface is demonstrated. A theoretical upper limit for AMC bandwidth is derived in terms of AMC structural parameters and validated for different AMC structures. Finally the effects of AMC structural parameters on the operating frequency of an AMC are investigated.