Role of wave interaction of wires and split-ring resonators for the losses in a left-handed composite

TL;DR

This paper presents an analytical model explaining the increased ohmic losses in a left-handed metamaterial due to wave interactions between wires and split-ring resonators, clarifying experimental observations of high transmission losses.

Contribution

It introduces a new analytical model that elucidates the role of wave interactions in loss mechanisms within a specific left-handed metamaterial structure.

Findings

Wave interaction significantly increases ohmic losses in SRRs.

Losses are higher in the combined lattice than in separate SRR or wire lattices.

The model explains the discrepancy between experimental losses and previous expectations.

Abstract

In this work the analytical model explaining the losses in the known two-phase lattice of D. Smith, S. Schultz and R. Shelby representing a uniaxial variant of left-handed medium (LHM) at microwaves is presented. The role of electromagnetic interaction between split-ring resonators (SRRs) and straight wires leading to the dramatic increase of ohmic losses in SRRs within the band when the meta-material becomes a LHM is clarified. {This paper explains why in this structure, rather high transmission losses are observed in the experimental data, whereas these losses in a separate lattice of SRRs and in a lattice of wires are negligible at these frequencies.