Surface-Wave Propagation on Non-Hermitian Metasurfaces With Extreme Anisotropy | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Surface-Wave Propagation on Non-Hermitian Metasurfaces With Extreme Anisotropy


Abstract:

Electromagnetic metasurfaces enable the advanced control of surface-wave propagation by spatially tailoring the local surface reactance. Interestingly, tailoring the surf...Show More

Abstract:

Electromagnetic metasurfaces enable the advanced control of surface-wave propagation by spatially tailoring the local surface reactance. Interestingly, tailoring the surface resistance distribution in space provides new, largely unexplored degrees of freedom. In this article, we show that suitable spatial modulations of the surface resistance between positive (i.e., loss) and negative (i.e., gain) values can induce peculiar dispersion effects, far beyond mere compensation. Taking inspiration from the parity-time symmetry concept in quantum physics, we put forward and explore a class of non-Hermitian metasurfaces that may exhibit extreme anisotropy mainly induced by the gain-loss interplay. Through analytical modeling and full-wave numerical simulations, we illustrate the associated phenomenon of surface-wave canalization, explore nonlocal effects and possible departures from the ideal conditions, and address the feasibility of the required constitutive parameters. Our results suggest intriguing possibilities to dynamically reconfigure the surface-wave propagation and are of potential interest for applications to imaging, sensing, and communications.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques ( Volume: 69, Issue: 4, April 2021)
Page(s): 2060 - 2071
Date of Publication: 02 March 2021

ISSN Information:

Funding Agency:


Contact IEEE to Subscribe

References

References is not available for this document.