Bistability in mushroom-type metamaterials

TL;DR

This paper investigates how asymmetric mushroom-type metamaterials with nonlinear elements exhibit bistability and giant nonlinear effects near Fano resonances, enabling switchable electromagnetic responses.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of nonlinear mushroom-type metamaterials showing bistability and switchability near Fano resonances using effective medium theory and simulations.

Findings

Bistability and hysteresis in reflection and transmission coefficients.

Giant nonlinear effects enable switch-like behavior.

Metamaterials can be toggled between 'go' and 'no-go' states.

Abstract

Here, we study the electromagnetic response of asymmetric mushroom-type metamaterials loaded with nonlinear elements. It is shown that near a Fano resonance these structures may have a strong tunable, bi-stable, and switchable response and enable giant nonlinear effects. Using an effective medium theory and full wave simulations, it is proven that the nonlinear elements may allow the reflection and transmission coefficients to follow hysteresis loops, and to switch the metamaterial between "go" and "no-go" states similar to an ideal electromagnetic switch.