Epsilon-Near-Zero (ENZ) Metamaterials and Electromagnetic Sources: Tailoring the Radiation Phase Pattern

TL;DR

This paper explores how epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials can be used to control and tailor the phase pattern of electromagnetic radiation sources, enabling independent phase shaping in different spatial regions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to manipulate electromagnetic source radiation patterns using ENZ metamaterials, supported by analytical and numerical analysis of various geometries.

Findings

ENZ materials can isolate regions and tailor phase patterns independently.

Planar layers and cylindrical shells of ENZ materials effectively control radiation phases.

Theoretical and numerical results demonstrate potential for advanced electromagnetic control.

Abstract

In this work, we investigate the response of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials and plasmonic materials to electromagnetic source excitation. The use of these media for tailoring the phase of radiation pattern of arbitrary sources is proposed and analyzed numerically and analytically for some canonical geometries. In particular, the possibility of employing planar layers, cylindrical shells or other more complex shapes made of such materials in order to isolate two regions of space and to tailor the phase pattern in one region, fairly independent of the excitation shape present in the other, is demonstrated with theoretical arguments and some numerical examples. Physical insights into the phenomenon are also presented and discussed together with potential applications of the phenomenon.