Second-Harmonic Generation and Spectrum Modulation by Active Nonlinear Metamaterial

TL;DR

This paper experimentally demonstrates a nonlinear metamaterial capable of tunable second-harmonic generation and spectrum modulation at microwave frequencies, showing strong nonlinear behavior under low power and voltage control.

Contribution

It introduces a novel active nonlinear metamaterial with voltage-tunable properties and demonstrates its nonlinear microwave response experimentally.

Findings

Clear observation of second harmonics and spectrum modulation

Tunable properties with low DC bias voltage

Strong nonlinear response at low power levels

Abstract

The nonlinear properties of a metamaterial sample composed of double-layer metallic patterns and voltage controllable diodes are experimentally investigated. Second harmonics and spectrum modulations are clearly observed in a wide band of microwave frequencies, showing that this kind of metamaterial is not only tunable by low DC bias voltage, but also behaves strong nonlinear property under a small power incidence. These properties are difficult to be found in normal, naturally occurring materials.