Material-structure integrated design for ultra-broadband microwave metamaterial absorber

TL;DR

This paper introduces a material-structure integrated design approach for dielectric metamaterials, achieving ultra-broadband microwave absorption from 5.3 to 18 GHz through combined theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods.

Contribution

It presents a novel design strategy merging material and structural optimization, enabling ultra-broadband absorption with high incident angle and polarization tolerance.

Findings

Achieved 109% relative bandwidth in microwave absorption

Demonstrated good incident angle and polarization tolerance

Identified multiple resonance modes responsible for broadband absorption

Abstract

We propose herein a method of material-structure integrated design for broadband absorption of dielectric metamaterial, which is achieved by combination of genetic algorithm and simulation platform. A multi-layered metamaterial absorber with an ultra-broadband absorption from 5.3 to 18 GHz (a relative bandwidth of as high as 109%) is realized numerically and experimentally. In addition, simulated results demonstrate the proposed metamaterial exhibits good incident angle and polarization tolerance, which also are significant criteria for practical applications. By investigating the working principle with theoretical calculation and numerical simulation, it can be found that merging of multiple resonance modes encompassing quarter-wavelength interference cancellation, spoof surface plasmon polariton mode, dielectric resonance mode and grating mode is responsible for a remarkable ultra-broadband absorption. Analysis of respective contribution of material and structure indicates that either of them plays an indispensable role in activating different resonance modes, and symphony of material and structure is essential to afford desirable target performance. The material-structure integrated design philosophy highlights the superiority of coupling material and structure and provides an effective comprehensive optimization strategy for dielectric metamaterials.