PhotonicRoadSME R&D report on Metamaterials

PhotonicRoadSME is funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme

Table of content
Table of content ........................................................................................................ 3 1. Introduction........................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Definition of the material category ................................................................................................ 6 1.2. Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Magnetic response: split-ring resonators (SRR) .................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Electric response: straight-wire medium ................................................................................ 7 1.2.3 Electric response: straight-wire medium ................................................................................ 8

2. Summary of European and national R&D funded projects ............................... 8

2.1. Metamaterials: from radio-frequencies to optical frequencies ................................................... 11 2.2. Nanolight.es: Light Control on the Nanoscale ............................................................................ 11 2.3. PhOREMOST (Network of excellence) ...................................................................................... 12 2.4. Metamorphose: Metamaterials organized for radio, millimeter wave and photonic supperlattice engineering (Network of excellence) ................................................................................................. 13 2.5. MEMS tuneable metamaterials for smart wireless applications (TUMESA) .............................. 15 2.6. Photonic metamaterials (PHOME) ............................................................................................. 16 2.7. Optimal design and fabrication of electromagnetic metamaterials for millimeter and microwave applications ........................................................................................................................................ 17 2.8. Advanced computational studies of dynamic phenomena in magnetic nano-materials ............ 18 2.9. Building radio-frequency identification solutions for the global environment (BRIDGE) ............ 19 2.10. Development and analysis of left-handed materials (DALHM) ................................................ 19 2.11. Electromagnetic and spin wave interactions in nanostructure-based metamaterials and devices (EMSWIM) ............................................................................................................................ 20 2.12. Plasmonic cavity quantum electrodynamics with diamond-based quantum systems (PLACQED) ....................................................................................................................................... 21 2.13. Self-organized nanomaterials for tailored optical and electrical properties (NANOGOLD) ..... 21 2.14. Nanochemistry and self-assembly routes to metamaterials for visible light (METACHEM) .... 22 2.15. Optically controlled growth of nanotubes and nanowires (J2923 Optisch gesteuertes Wachstum von Nanorhren und Nanodrhten)................................................................................. 23 2.16. Resonance-domain metamaterials for sub-wavelength optics................................................. 23 2.17. Metamaterials for photonics, high frequencies and optical networks (Metamatriaux pour la photonique, les hyperfrquences et l'optique des rseaux) .............................................................. 24 2.18. Nonlinear Photonics with Metallic Nanostructures on Top of Dielectrics and Waveguides ..... 24 2.19. Analysis and Synthesis of resonant Antenna Structures based on Metamaterials (Analyse und Synthese von resonanten Antennenstrukturen basierend auf Metamaterialien) .............................. 25 2.20. ZIK Ultraoptics Project: Design and Implementation of functional Metamaerials by Nanostructuring and Application of those structures in Complex Photonic Systems (ZIK Ultraoptics -

Projekt:

Design

und

Realisierung

hochfunktioneller

optischer

Metamaterialien

durch

Nanostrukturierung sowie deren Anwendung in komplexen photonischen Systemen) .................... 26 2.21. METAMAT - 3D Photonic Metamaterials (METAMAT - Photonische Metamaterialien - 3DMetamaterialien) ................................................................................................................................ 26 2.22. Applicable verification of hybrid eutectic systems for metamaterials production ..................... 26 2.23. Production eutectic systems by micro-pulling down .............................................................. 26 2.24. Large area fabrication of 3D negative index metamaterials by Nanoimprint Lithography (NIM_NIL) .......................................................................................................................................... 27 2.25. NANOSTRUCTURED PHOTONIC METAMATERIALS ........................................................... 28 2.26. Active Plasmonics and Lossless Metamaterials ...................................................................... 29 2.27. Advanced Design and Control of Active and Passive Metamaterials : from Microwaves ........ 29 2.28. Negative index metamaterials for visible-light optics ............................................................... 30 2.29. Building Ceramic Metamaterials from Nanoparticles: A combined Modelling, Tomography and In-situ Loading Study ......................................................................................................................... 31 2.30. NANOSTRUCTURED METAFILMS: A NEW PARADIGM FOR PHOTONICS ....................... 33

3. Literature survey .................................................................................................34

3.1. Overview of publications............................................................................................................. 34 3.2. Metamaterial antennas ............................................................................................................... 36 3.3. Cloaking ...................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4. Superlenses ................................................................................................................................ 39 3.5. 3.5 References ........................................................................................................................... 41

4. Current applications ............................................................................................42

4.1. Information and Communication Technologies .......................................................................... 42 4.1.1 Optical interconnect devices and structures based on metamaterials - US 2008212921 (A1) ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 4.1.2 Negative-refraction metamaterials using continuous metallic grids over ground for controlling and guiding electromagnetic radiation - US 2008204164 (A1) .................................... 43 4.1.3 Use of left-handed metamaterials as a display, particularly on a hob, as well as display and display method - US 2007267406 (A1) ......................................................................................... 43 4.1.4 Nonlinear optical devices based on metamaterials - WO 2007133727 (A1) ....................... 43 4.1.5 Antennas, devices and systems based on metamaterial structures - US 2008258981 (A1) 44 4.1.6 Metamaterial antenna arrays with radiation pattern shaping and beam switching - US 2008258993 (A1) ........................................................................................................................... 44 4.1.7 Single-Feed Multi-Cell Metamaterial Antenna Devices US2009251385 (A1) .................... 44 4.1.8 Tunable delay system and corresponding method - WO 2008116289 (A1) ........................ 44 4.1.9 Compact dual-band resonator using anisotropic metamaterial - US 2008204327 (A1) ...... 45 4.1.10 Metamaterial structures for light processing and methods of processing light - WO 2008094543 (A1) ........................................................................................................................... 45 4.1.11 Method and apparatus for reduced coupling and interference between antennas ............ 45

4.2. Environment ............................................................................................................................... 46 4.2.1 Molecular and photonic nanostructures, optical biomaterials, photosensitizers, molecular contrast agents, and metamaterials - WO 2008130383 (A2) ........................................................ 46 4.3. Health & Well-Being ................................................................................................................... 46 4.3.1 Photonic funnels and anisotropic waveguides for subdiffraction light compression and pulse management at the nanoscale - US 2008219628 (A1) ................................................................. 46 4.4. Safety & Security ........................................................................................................................ 46 4.4.1 Efficient terahertz sources by optical rectification in photonic crystals and metamaterials exploiting tailored transverse dispersion relations - US 2007297734 (A1) ................................... 46 4.4.2 Active terahertz metamaterial devices - WO 2008121159 (A2) ........................................... 47 4.4.3 Three-dimensional left-handed metamaterial - WO 2008120556 (A1) ................................ 47 4.4.4 Security mark - WO 2008110775 (A1) ................................................................................. 47 4.4.5 System, method and apparatus for cloaking - US 2008165442 (A1) ................................... 48 4.4.6 Electromagnetic cloaking method - CA 2590307 (A1) ........................................................ 48 4.4.7 Active radar system .............................................................................................................. 48 4.5. Others ......................................................................................................................................... 48 4.5.1 Metamaterials and resonance materials based on composites of liquid crystal colloids and nano particles - SI 22508 (A) ......................................................................................................... 48 4.5.2 Metamaterials and resonant materials based on liquid crystal dispersions ......................... 49 of colloidal particles and nanoparticles - EP 1975656 (A1) ........................................................... 49 4.5.3 Enhanced substrate using metamaterials - WO 2007069224 (A2) ...................................... 49 4.5.4 Fabrication of semiconductor metamaterials - US 2008138571 (A1) .................................. 49 4.5.5 Variable metamaterial apparatus - WO 2007098061 (A2) ................................................... 50

5. Barriers .................................................................................................................50 6. Trends and future applications ..........................................................................51

6.1. Waveguide miniaturization ......................................................................................................... 51 6.2. Dispersive waveguides ............................................................................................................... 52 6.3. Antennas / antenna arrays ......................................................................................................... 53 6.4. High impedance surfaces and artificial magnetic conductors .................................................... 53 6.5. Tuneable materials ..................................................................................................................... 54 6.6. Summary .................................................................................................................................... 54

7. Information sheets on relevant photonic materials ..........................................57 8. Imprint ..................................................................................................................58

1. Introduction
1.1. Definition of the material category
As its name may suggest, metamaterials are materials whose properties are different from materials available in nature. In general, these materials get their beyond-nature properties from their structure rather than their composition. Following the ideas from Padilla et al., engineered, periodic materials composed of designed metallic and/or dielectric inclusions with dimensions smaller than the working wavelength can display striking and unique electromagnetic properties, not inherent to their individual constituent basic blocks. These artificially nanostructures, known as metamaterials, have the potential to fill critical voids in the electromagnetic spectrum where the material response of common optoelectronic elements is limited and enable the construction of novel devices. As a matter of fact, they can be characterized by spatially averaged dielectric properties at the range of interest, and . In the last years, metamaterials showing features like negative refractive index behaviour and enhancement control on the magnetic field at optical frequencies have drawn significant attention. Thus, the potential of metamaterials to facilitate new developments in electromagnetism paves the way to the design, fabrication and characterization on the nanoscale of superlenses, filters, and , eventually, cloaking devices, among some of the most remarkable applications in this field. Although there is an increasingly interest in different structures that could act as metamaterials at optical frequencies, most of the designs at nanoscale mimic those at lower frequencies, based on many well-know devices that have been characterized in the lab. Consequently, the main efforts rely on nanoscaled periodic structures made of metallic (or dielectric) inclusions on a dielectric or (metallic) matrix. There exist also alternative approaches to get metamaterials working at higher frequencies through plasmonic effects (i.e. beaming). At optical frequencies the first objective is to prove the feasibility of lensing devices with the help of artificial materials like plasmonic devices, split-ring resonators and engineered thin sheets. At terahertz frequencies, the main goal is to achieve lefthanded materials easily. In both ranges of frequencies, the cost of fabrication and testing is high. Nonetheless, visible frequency applications seem to be less probable in the short run than at longer wavelengths We must prevent to not to consider photonic crystals as a kind of metamaterial, in the sense we are discussing, because of the dispersion effects unavoidable in these structures. In sharply contrast, metamaterials present a well-defined index of refraction at the range of interest, which is independent from the wave-vector of the illuminating radiation.

1.2. Overview
Taking into account the dimension of the structures involved in the design, fabrication and characterization of metamaterials that could have the highest potential, they can be classified as follows.

1.2.1 Magnetic response: split-ring resonators (SRR) Split-ring resonators (SRR) are one of the most common elements used to fabricate metamaterials. They are non-magnetic materials, which are usually fabricated from circuit board material to create metamaterials. SRRs are pairs of concentric annular rings with splits in them at opposite ends. The rings are made of metal like copper and have small gap between them. They can be arranged in an array to form an effective magnetic material. Its performance and behaviour as a metamaterial can be understood in terms of an LC resonator, displaying a different response (in phase or out of phase with the interacting electromagnetic field) depending on the frequency of the field. A magnetic flux penetrating the metal rings will induce rotating currents in the rings, which produce their own flux to enhance or oppose the incident field (depending on the SRR's resonant properties). This field pattern is dipolar. Due to splits in the rings the structure can support resonant wavelengths much larger than the diameter of the rings. This would not happen in closed rings. The small gaps between the rings produces large capacitance values which lower the resonating frequency, as the time constant is large. The dimensions of the structure are small compared to the resonant wavelength. This results in low radiative losses, and very high quality factors. At frequencies below the resonant frequency, the real part of the magnetic permeability of the SRR becomes large, and at frequencies higher than resonance it will become negative. This negative permeability can be used with the negative dielectric constant of another structure to produce negative refractive index materials. Increasing the number of splits increases the magnetic resonance frequency drastically, since the amount of decrease in the capacitance of the system is very large.

1.2.2 Electric response: straight-wire medium It is mandatory to dispose of a medium with negative response to the electric field, in order to design a left-handed material. Naturally occurring materials that give rise to negative response to the electric field component of the electromagnetic wave at optical frequencies are well-know. For instance, any metal illuminated by a electromagnetic wave with a frequency below its plasma frequency has negative values for its permittivity, which stems from the response of the free electrons of the metal. Nevertheless, a wire (1D) lattice made of metallic fibers in a bulk dielectric offers far more flexibility to control the electric response to the field than a usual metal at optical frequencies. This is due to the dependence of the resonance frequency of the equivalent permittivity with the dimension and geometry of the nanostructure. In the context of negative-index metamaterials, the wire lattice and its variants are an excellent approach for designing and fabricating a medium for which < 0. Because the plasma frequency can be tuned by geometry, the region of moderately negative values can be forced to happen in the whole rane of the spectrum, from Ghz to optical frequencies. There are also proposals to reproduce 2D periodic arrays of units made of noble metal/semiconductor on a dielectric substrate to achieve a negative electric response in the same fashion as SRR acts on the magnetic field component. Combining both kinds of structures in different ways, a left-handed material can be created. The work frequency can be tuned, as it depends on the dimension of the unit cells of the materials

aforementioned. It must be mentioned that the smaller the dimensions of the unit cells of the structures analyzed above, the poorer the performance of the nanostructure based on the combination of SRR and wires. Several methods were proposed to overcome this problem. The simplest one is to add more capacitive gaps to the original SRR design. 1.2.3 Electric response: straight-wire medium To beat the limitations at higher frequencies of the previous structures, some alternatives have been put forward to obtain materials working with an n < 0 at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Some of them are periodic arrays of parallel metallic nano-rods on a dielectric substrate, periodic arrays of voids on metallic sheets and fishnet nanostructures on metallic sheets. All of them can be considered 2D nanostructures. Some others take advantage of the plasmonic effects that appear in the interaction of light with them.

2. Summary of European and national R&D funded projects

In this section, a list of some representative European and National initiatives (Germany, France, Spain, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, UK) in the field of metamaterials during the last years is presented. A project search was conducted using following keywords:

hits in keyword German y metamaterials split-ring resonator negative refractive index superlens cloaking 9 0

hits in France *) 1

hits in Spain

hits in Finland *) 1

hits in Austria

hits in Switzerl and 1 0

hits in Poland

hits in UK *)

hits in Cordis

2 0

0 0

2 0

12 0

0 0 1

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

2 0 1

*) there was no database available, project search was undertaken by hand (web search) **) database available but not searchable in a systematic manner

Following databases have been searched: DFG Germany: http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/

BMBF Germany: http://foerderportal.bund.de/foekat/jsp/SucheAction.do?actionMode=searchmask Madri+D database Spain: http://www.madrimasd.org/Investigadores/buscador-proyectosinvestigacion/default.asp FWF Austria: http://www.fwf.ac.at/de/projects/projekt_datenbank.asp ARAMIS Switzerland: http://www.aramis.admin.ch/Default.aspx Ministry of Science and Education Poland (2007 - ): http://naukapolska.pl/dhtml/raportyWyszukiwanie/wyszukiwaniePraceBadawcze.fs?lang=pl Ministry of Science and Education Poland (2006 - 2007): http://www.nauka.opi.org.pl/granty/zaawansowane.htm Ple Optique & Photonic France: http://www.popsud.org/ Ministre de l'Enseignement suprieur et de la Recherche France: http://www2.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/appel/index.htm FinNano 2005-2010 Finland: http://akseli.tekes.fi/opencms/opencms/OhjelmaPortaali/ohjelmat/NANO/en/etusivu.html Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC database UK: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/ListProgrammes.aspx Cordis Project database for FP7: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/projects_en.html Cordis Project database for FP6: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp6/projects.htm

A total of 30 national and international R&D funded projects have been identified, examined and summarized. The table shown below gives an idea of the domain of applications of the projects mentioned (indicated in grey color) as well as the origin of funding.

Project # 1

ICT optical filters, superlenses optical circuits, data storage

Environment

Health & WellBeing super-lenses

Safety & Security

Funding origin

Spain

2 3 4

sensors

sensors

Spain EC

optical circuits, optical antennas secure highatmospheric remote sensing, spectroscopy, radio astronomy

apertures, imaging systems

EC

capacity communication systems thin-film optical

radar

EC

isolators, electrooptic modulators,

"perfect lenses"

EC

optical switching, "perfect lenses" 7 8 9 RIFD tags RF absorbers, RF 10 lenses, optical filters waveguides, 11 microcavities, optical filters 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 telecoms, data storage slow light applications slow light, waveguides superlens energy, light generation, sensors slow light applications slow light applications superlens sensors, imaging sensors, imaging, security applications UK UK antennas light sources optical networks EC EC EC Austria Finland France Germany Germany Germany Germany Poland Poland EC EC EC miniaturised antennas EC EC EC

25

26

27 28 29

UK UK UK

miniaturised devices, e.g. 30 optical filters, splitters, modulators etc. Total 17 3 8 2 UK

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2.1. Metamaterials: from radio-frequencies to optical frequencies

Project description The project aims to investigate different configurations of metamaterials based on SRR resonators and complementary structures to design filters, superlenses and frequency-selective surfaces from the millimetric/microwave regime to the optical range. Although the main research lines are devoted to applications outside the visible range, most of the designs are expected to serve as basis for future devices at optical frequencies.

Start date: 01/01/2007 End date: 31/12/2009. Funding organization: Junta de Andalucia (Spain) Photonic structures studied: SRR structures and their variants Project cost: 157.999,88 Participant: Universidad de Sevilla (Spain)

2.2. Nanolight.es: Light Control on the Nanoscale

Project description NanoLight aims to develop nanoscale light technology for applications in sensing, nanoimaging, optical circuitry and data storage, the key components of future information technology. The experimental research comprises nanophotonics, plasmonics, nanofabrication, near field microscopy, single molecule detection, photonic crystals and nonlinear optics, and thus covers the most important current approaches to nanoscale light technology. These methods will be exploited to investigate and control the generation, confinement and flow of light energy on the nanoscale. The theoretical part is essential to provide concepts and guidelines to design suitable schemes for the creation of highly localized spatio-temporal fields, to calculate plasmon and shape resonances, local density of states, nanophotonic forces and the response of embedded quantum systems. NanoLight consolidates a Spanish network acting as an international reference in this field. The unique financial injection provided by the Consolider program will be used to invest in the future both in people (at least 25 new high level research positions) and in national high-tech experimental infrastructure. NanoLight fosters collaborations with national and international industry, as well as training activities.

Start date: 01/01/2007 End date: 31/12/2007 Funding organization: Spanish Ministry of Technology and Innovation Photonic structures studied: Nanoplasmonic structures, photonic crystals and similar structures Project cost: 6.685.000 Participants:

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Instituto de Ciencias Fotonicas (Spain) Instituto de Investigacin en Inteligencia Artificial CSIC (Spain) Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) Universidad Politcnica de Madrid (Spain) Universidad Politcnica de Valencia (Spain) Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain) Universidad de Llerida (Spain)

2.3. PhOREMOST (Network of excellence)

Project description PhOREMOST is a 4-year European project established in 2004, in the area of nanophotonics and molecular photonics, to address the near- and long-term needs of photonic functional components. The network aims to enhance European research in nanophotonics by integrating students and researchers working in these fields to realise the underpinning science and engineering for molecularbased optical components, hence nanophotonics to access the molecular scale. Nanophotonics is defined as the science and engineering of light-matter interactions where, on the one hand, interactions take place within the wavelength and subwavelength scales and, on the other hand, the physical, chemical and structural nature of artificially or natural nanostructured matter determines these interactions. The network programme is divided into 4 main activities: Integration Research Spreading of Excellence Management

Start date: October 2004 End date: September 2008 Funding organization: European Comission Photonic structures studied: Nanophotonic structures Project cost: 4.500.000 Participants: Tyndall National Institute (Ireland) European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (Italy) Institut de Cincies Fotniques (Spain) University of Exeter (United Kingdom) Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Spain) University of Southampton (United Kingdom) Centro Ricerche Fiat Societa Consortile per Azioni (Italy)

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Bilkent Universites (Turkey) Universit de Marseille III (France) Koc University (Turkey Universita Delgi Studi Roma la Sapienza (Italy) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France) Vilnius Pedagogical University (Lithuania) Technical Research Cnetre of Finland (Finland) Institute of Solid State Physics (Russia) Technische Universitt Dresden (Germany) Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute (Russia) Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics (Belarus) Chalmers Tekniska Hoegskola Aktiebolag (Sweden) Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel) Universit de Montpellier II (France) Kungliga Teckniska Hogskolan (Sweden) Universita Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain) Universita degli Studi di Pavia (Italy) University of Oxford (United Kingdom) Institutul National de Cercetare Dezvoltare Pentru Fizica (Romania) Universitaet Dortmund (Germany) Ecole Normale Suprieure Cachan (France) Queens University of Belfast (United Kingdom) Nanocomms Ltd (Ireland) Foundation for Research and Technology (Greece) Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (The Netherlands) Consorzio Ricerche Elaborazione Communtazione Ottica (Italy) Bergische Universitatet Wuppertal (Germany)

2.4. Metamorphose: Metamaterials organized for radio, millimeter wave and photonic supperlattice engineering (Network of excellence)
Project description Metamaterials are artificial electromagnetic (multi-)functional materials engineered to satisfy the prescribed requirements. The prefix meta means after, beyond and also of a higher kind. Superior properties as compared to what can be found in nature are often underlying in the spelling of metamaterial. These new properties emerge due to specific interactions with electromagnetic fields or due to external electrical control. Electromagnetic metamaterials will play a key role in providing new

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functionalities and enhancements to the future electronic devices and components, such as highspeed circuits, multifunctional smart miniature antennas and apertures, high-resolution imaging systems, smart skins, and so forth. After all, these systems (and others) are built on substrates and superstrates whose electromagnetic response functions define the design and performance of the systems. Consider a particular but characteristic example for the applicability of metamaterials: recently, the theoretical concept of planar perfect lenses with "lefthanded" metamaterials was proposed. Such a perfect lens would enable to circumvent resolution limitations in many optical or electromagnetic systems beyond the diffraction limit. Multitudinous applications in many areas of information technology and life science can be envisaged just for this single particular example, like e.g. better imaging systems, higher capacity optical data storage systems, more compact integrated optical telecom solutions, etc. Joint research activities of this collaboration will include composite materials with extreme electromagnetic properties (such as "left-handed" media and materials with null-valued effective parameters), electrically controllable materials, stop band materials,

metageometries like fractals and quasi-periodical structures, artificial surfaces and sheets. Metamaterials are, in essence, the materials of the future, since the main purpose for their study is to be able to go beyond where naturally occurring substances and current materials research have taken us. By combining different microscopic elements into large-scale designs, one will be able not only to create materials with fundamentally new properties but also to fabricate others that have properties on demand, as required by new technologies. In particular, new electromagnetic properties will allow us to control microwaves, millimetre waves, and optical light in revolutionary ways. This is the context in which this project is framed.

Start date: 2004 End date: 2008 Funding organization: European Commission Photonic structures studied: Metamaterials Project cost: 4.400.000 euros Participants: Helsinki University of Technology (Finland) Universit Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) Universidad del Pas Vasco (Spain) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Switzerland) University of Southampton (United Kingdom) Bilkent University (Turkey) Universidad Publica de Navarra (Spain) University of Glasgow (United Kingdom) Siegen University (Germany) St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University (Russia) FORTH - Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (Greece)

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Warsaw University (Poland) University Roma Tre (Italy) Loughborough University (United Kingdom) University of Siena (Italy) Thales Research & Technology (France) Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain) Queen's University of Belfast (United Kingdom) Universit Paris-Sud (France) Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) Institute of Electronic Materials Technology (Poland)

2.5. MEMS tuneable metamaterials for smart wireless applications (TUMESA)

Project description The proposed project focuses on development of tuneable metamaterials and metasurfaces based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and their integration to smart wireless systems such as radar, secure high-capacity communication systems, radio astronomy, atmospheric remote sensing, spectroscopy, etc. MEMS allow miniaturisation of electronic components, reduce their cost in batch production and effectively compete with semiconductor and ferroelectric based technologies in terms of losses at millimetre wavelengths. Metamaterials provide a way to design devices with unique and engineered electromagnetic properties. The advantage of convergence between MEMS and metamaterials is ability to create novel miniaturized reconfigurable low-loss and cost-effective wireless devices with innovative self-adapting mechanisms. In addition to industrial and technological objectives, a number of socio-economic challenges urge research in smart wireless applications. EU authorities have launched a program to reduce fatal road accidents by 50% by 2010, with the focus on driver assistance and on-board safety systems for accident reduction, including automotive radar. For this purpose, the European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI) has already produced a standard for automotive radar in the 79 GHz range. The main objectives of the proposed project are to develop novel on-chip phase shifting and beam-steering devices based on MEMS tuneable highimpedance surfaces, integrate developed phase shifting components in novel space-efficient antenna arrays on a single chip, elaborate novel concepts for implementating the beam-steering devices and antenna arrays in cost-efficient radar sensor and future high-capacity wireless communication systems and evaluate fabricated prototypes at a system level.

Start date: 01/06/2008 End date: 31/05/2011 Funding organization: European Commission, FP7 Photonic structures studied: tuneable metamaterials

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Project cost: 2.530.000 Participants: Universit de Rennes I (France) Autocruise S.A.S. (France) Teknillinen Korkeakoulu (Finland) Microcomp Nordic AB (Sweden) Kungliga Tekcniska Hogskolan (Sweden)

2.6. Photonic metamaterials (PHOME)

Project description Metamaterials are composite, man-made materials, composed of sub-wavelength metallic building blocks, which show novel and unique electromagnetic properties, not occurring in natural materials. A particularly important class of such materials is the negative refractive index metamaterials. Negative refractive index metamaterials have been in the foreground of scientific interest in the last seven years. In 2006-2007 near infrared and optical frequencies were obtained, despite the initial objections and disbelief. However, many serious obstacles have to be overcome before the impressive possibilities of optical/photonic metamaterials can become real applications. The present project identifies the main obstacles and proposes specific approaches to deal with them; in addition, it intends to study novel and unexplored capabilities of photonic metamaterials. Specifically, the project objectives are the realization of 3D photonic metamaterials, the reduction of losses in photonic metamaterials, the realization of active and tunable/switchable (electrically or optically) photonic metamaterials by incorporating gain or nonlinearity, and the realization of chiral photonic metamaterials. The accomplishment of those objectives is both a theoretical and a technological challenge, as it requires proofs of concepts, advanced computational techniques and advanced nanofabrication approaches. To guide and test the proposed photonic metamaterials, a number of important and ICT relevant demonstrators have been demonstrated, which include thin-film optical isolators, electro-optic modulators, optical switching, and negative refractive index material-based "perfect lenses" in the infrared, and possibly in the visible. The implementation of the project will be done through combined theory/modelling, fabrication and experimental testing efforts, in continuous interaction. The broad theoretical and experimental expertise of the consortium, together with their field shaping past contributions to metamaterials, make them capable to face the challenges involved and to minimize the risk, ensuring the maximum possible success of the project.

Start date: 01/06/2008 End date: 31/05/2011 Funding organization: European Commission, FP7 Photonic structures studied: tuneable metamaterials Project cost: 1.900.000 Participants:

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Universitaet Karlsruhe (Germany) Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (Greece) Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (United Kingdom) Bilkent University (Turkey)

2.7. Optimal design and fabrication of electromagnetic metamaterials for millimeter and microwave applications
Project description In this proposal, a new class of artificial materials with prescribed electromagnetic properties, created to a custom design via topology optimization and advanced multimaterial fabrication technologies is proposed. These artificial materials, or meta-materials, are composites of dielectrics and magnetic oxides, combined to produce new electromagnetic property tensors and previously unobtainable figures of merit. Unlike traditional antenna design approaches based on surface metallization (where an experienced antenna designer can bypass formal design tools), exploitation of novel engineered material volumes for antennas (and other RF applications) can only be realized with generalized design methodologies. Topology optimization is such a method and allows for novel material microstructure and topology designs from scratch. The combination of powerful optimal design techniques with practical realization for specific applications, will serve as a general example for a new approach for creating designed metamaterials, useful for other functional materials. The new functionality of metamaterials will enable new technology for several microwave and millimeter wave applications. The focus in this work will be the design and fabrication of meta-materials for shrinking the size and increasing the functionality of antennas such as large bandwidth and high gain. By reducing size and adding functionality to a radiator element, avenues will be opened for many new and practical phased array applications such as RF sensing, miniaturized transceivers and covert RF tags to mention a few. This in turn will lead to cheaper configurations for the much smaller and network-centric future systems.

Start date: 01/09/2006 End date: 31/08/2008 Funding organization: European Commission, FP7 Project Funding: 80.000 Participant: Sabanci University (Turkey)

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2.8. Advanced computational studies of dynamic phenomena in magnetic nano-materials

Project description The opportunity to modify the excitation spectra in materials with modulated properties has stimulated striving research activity in the area of artificial nanostructures with novel functionalities - so called metamaterials. Magnetic materials with modulated properties also possess properties that cannot be reduced to those of their constituents. The best example is the phenomenon of giant magnetoresistance (GMR), the discovery of which was marked by the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2007. Similar to photons in photonic crystals, the spectrum of magnons (spin waves) in periodic magnetic nanomaterials shows a tailored band structure. The latter consists of bands of allowed magnon states and band gaps in which there are no allowed magnon states. By analogy to studies of other band-gap materials, the field of research is called magnonics. Further development and application of magnetic nano-structures requires a thorough understanding of the relation between their physical and chemical structure and useful magnetic functionalities. The ability to accurately predict properties of fabricated magnetic nano-structures and complete devices theoretically would generate huge savings of resources, but remains illusive at present. The goal of this project is to consolidate efforts of European researchers with a broad range of leading expertise to create, to validate and to implement a flexible computational framework for modelling of dynamics in realistic magnetic nano-materials and complete devices. The framework will be validated via comparison of computational results against those obtained experimentally or using analytical theories. We will model magnetic dynamics in topologically complex nanostructures, in view of applying them in design of realistic devices. This project will provide a computational foundation for creation of not only novel high speed magnetic technologies but also of those at interfaces with photonics, plasmonics, phononics, and electronics.

Start date: 01/06/2009 End date: 31/05/2012 Funding organization: European Commission, FP7 Project cost: 1.170.976 Participants: University of Exeter (United Kingdom) Universita degli Studi di Ferrara (Italy) University of Southampton (United Kingdom) Uniwersytet Im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu (Poland)

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2.9. Building radio-frequency identification solutions for the global environment (BRIDGE)
Project description Building Radio Frequency IDentification for the Global Environment (BRIDGE) is a European Union funded 3-year integrated project addressing ways to resolve the barriers to the implementation of RFID in Europe, based upon GS1 EPC global standards. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology which uses radiofrequency signals for automatic identification. Among the different frequency bands that can be used for RFID, the one that is becoming a standard for supply chain management is the UHF frequency band. The project consists of a series of business, technical development and horizontal activities. Seven work packages have been set up to identify the opportunities, establish the business cases and perform trials and implementations in various sectors including anti-counterfeiting, pharmaceuticals, textile, manufacturing, re-usable assets, products in service and retail non-food items. The project includes an important research and development program in various aspects of RFID hardware, software, network and security. Within this immense project, a work programme, named hardware development, includes developing tags using metamaterials. Two main investigation topics are emphasized: developing miniaturized UHF tags based on metamaterial geometries and and near field tags based on metamaterials.

Start date: 01/07/2006 End date: 01/07/2009 Funding organization: European Commission, FP6 Project cost: 7.5 million Participants: CAEN (Italy) UPM Raflatac (Finland) Confidex (Finland) Auto-ID Labs Fudan University (China) Auto-ID Labs University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) AT4 wireless (Spain) AIDA centre University of Catalonia (Spain) Technical University of Catalonia (Spain)

2.10. Development and analysis of left-handed materials (DALHM)

Project description Left-handed (LH) materials are composite materials with novel and unique electromagnetic properties, which are not determined by the fundamental physical properties of their constituents but by the shape and the distribution of specific patterns included in them. LH materials have the unique property of having both the effective permittivity and the effective permeability negative. The aim of this project is

19

the theoretical understanding, analysis, development and testing of LH materials, and also the investigation of their feasibility for commercial telecommunication applications. These applications include RF absorbers, radomes, wide-angle impedance matching sheets for phased array antennas, generation of nearly divergence-free RF beams, RF lenses, variable negative filters and remote imaging. The different objectives of the proposed effort are a better understanding of the physics of left-handed (LH) materials, improving the existing modelling and simulation tools, with aim to study more complicated structures than the structures which can be studied today, fabricating left-handed materials (ordered and disordered) using various approaches, materials and processes, identifying commercial telecommunication applications where such materials can make a big difference and testing of the electromagnetic behaviour of these materials in the laboratory and in "relevant" environments.

Start date: 01/09/2002 End date: 28/02/2006 Funding organization: N/C Project cost: N/C Participants: Foundation for Research and Technology , Hellas (Greece) Bilkent University (Turkey) Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (United Kingdom )

2.11. Electromagnetic and spin wave interactions in nanostructurebased metamaterials and devices (EMSWIM)
Project description The proposal is focused on the fundamental and applied research of electromagnetic and spin wave processes in laterally patterned periodic nanostructures and derived metamaterials and devices, with particular interest in magnetic materials. The research aims at the development and computer implementation of a theoretical approach capable of modeling the electromagnetic response of the nanostructures, their numerical and experimental investigation, proposing and designing novel applications, and studying related physical phenomena such as photon-spin wave

interactions.Graphical, user-friendly software based on the numerical algorithm will be utilized for a commercial scatterometric system in the frame of international collaboration with Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd., Japan. The project will use magneto-optical spectroscopy available at the host institution and other optical, magneto-optical, and complementary magnetism- and surface-science techniques provided by collaborating laboratories in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Japan. The results obtained on the nanostructures will be used to propose and design novel artificial metamaterials (such as magneto-photonic crystals) and devices (such as waveguides, microcavities, polarizing, space-modulating and other optical filters). 20

Start date: 01/04/2008 End date: 31/03/2012 Funding organization: FP7 Project cost: 100000 Participant: Charles University (Czech Republic)

2.12. Plasmonic cavity quantum electrodynamics with diamond-based quantum systems (PLACQED)
Project description This project aims to realize physical systems for the realization of plasmonic cavity quantum electrodynamics using optically active diamond-based quantum systems such as atomic impurities. Color centers in diamond provide a suitable test bed for applications of quantum information processing, as well as selected spin-spin interactions. While there are hundreds of known color centers in diamond, but only one (nitrogen vacancy) is studied extensively. The study will focus on optical properties and identifying energy levels of alternative color centers both naturally occurring and artificially implanted, potential candidates being Ni, Si, or Fe impurities. Research is lead in parallel on solid-state-based cavity quantum electrodynamics with light confinement at sub-wavelength scale. Using metal nanostructures and plasmons, the project aims at achieving individual or ensemble strongly coupled emitter-cavity systems.

Start date: 01/08/2008 End date: 31/07/2013 Funding organization: FP7 Project Funding: 1.712.342 Participant: University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)

2.13. Self-organized nanomaterials for tailored optical and electrical properties (NANOGOLD)
Project description The NANOGOLD project aims at the fabrication and application of bulk electro-magnetic metamaterials. A promising new concept for the exploration of metamaterials is the use of periodic structures with periods considerably shorter than the wavelength of the operating electromagnetic radiation. This concept allows controlling the refractive properties. Making use of a bottom up approach in materials design, self-organization of organic-inorganic composite materials containing resonant entities will be applied. To tune electromagnetic properties, resonance and interference at

21

different length scales will be implemented. In such a way bulk optical metamaterials operating in spectral domains appropriate for photonics will be obtained. The groundbreaking solution to form such artificial matter is interdisciplinary and combines inorganic chemistry, organic macromolecular synthesis, physics of electromagnetic resonances and liquid crystal technology.

Start date: 01/08/2009 End date: 31/07/2012 Funding organization: FP7 Project Funding: 3.519.235 Participants: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland) University of Hull (United Kingdom) University of Sheffield (United Kingdom) Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg (Germany) Universita della Calabria (Italy) University of Patras (Greece) Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena (Germany) Virtual Institute for Artificial Electromagnetic Materials and Metamaterials (Belgium)

2.14. Nanochemistry and self-assembly routes to metamaterials for visible light (METACHEM)
Project description The objective of the METACHEM collaborative project is to use the extreme versatility of nanochemistry to design and manufacture bulk meta-materials exhibiting non-conventional electromagnetic properties in the range of visible light. This spectral domain requires nano-scale patterns, typically around 50 nm in size or less. The consortium strategy consists in designing and synthesizing ad-hoc nano particles as optical plasmonic nano-resonators and organising them through self-assembly methods in 2 or 3 dimensional networks in order to produce dense highly ordered structures at a nano-scale level. Several subprojects corresponding to different routes are proposed, all of them based on existing state-of-theart chemical and self assembly methods. In addition, the important issue of losses inherent to the plasmonic response of the nano-objects is addressed in an original way by the adjunction of losscompensating active gain media. A special effort is to be made on the difficult measurement of the non conventional meta-properties as they constitute the first demonstration of the validity of the concept. A technological and an industrial point are added towards the search of efficient, cost-effective and industrially feasible metamaterials.

22

Start date: 15/09/2009 End date: 14/09/2013 Funding organization: FP7 Project Funding: 3.699.990 Participants: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy) Universit Catholique de Louvain (Belgique) University of Manchester (United Kingdom) Universita degli Studi di Siena (Italy) Rhodia Laboratoire du Futur (France) Teknillinen Korkeakoulu (Finland) Universidad de Vigo (Spain) Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany)

2.15. Optically controlled growth of nanotubes and nanowires (J2923 Optisch gesteuertes Wachstum von Nanorhren und Nanodrhten)
Project description Description available only in German

Start date: 01/07/2009 End date: 30/06/2011 Funding organization: FWF Austria Keywords: nanotubes, nanowires, spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, metamaterials, nanophotonics

2.16. Resonance-domain metamaterials for sub-wavelength optics

Project description Resonances play a crucial role in the optical properties of materials. Resonant transitions between quantum states of atoms and molecules are responsible for absorption and refraction of light, while in the macroscale, electromagnetic cavity resonances form the basis for lasers and other optical devices. In the mesoscale, the optical response of atoms or molecules combined into nanoentities is dramatically enriched by Mie-type resonances. As a result the optical properties of artificial materials based on collection of nanoparticles in an appropriate matrix go beyond those of conventional composites. Such materials typically consist of two- or three-dimensional (2D and 3D, respectively) arrays of nanoparticles with subwavelength period and are often referred to as metamaterials. The overall goal of the REDMETA Consortium is to develop resonance-domain metamaterials that will give

23

rise to unprecedented and advantageous optical properties due to the interplay between the Mie-like resonances of individual particles and propagating modes of the structure. We expect that such metamaterials will outperform conventional ones in (i) the tunability of spectral features; (ii) the ability to form a desired local-field distribution and to use it for radiation control; and (iii) the magnitude of the optical nonlinearity. The work will be based on a close collaboration between Prof. Yuri Svirko at the Department of Physics of the University of Joensuu (UJ), Dr. Gory Genty at the Nonlinear Optics Group (NLO) at the Department of Physics of the Tampere University of Technology (TUT), and Dr. Janne Simonen at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) of TUT. The Partners bring significantly complementary expertise to the Consortium, which allows it to address unprecedented questions regarding resonance-domain metamaterials. The immediate targets of REDMETA are fundamental. However, it is expected that the fundamental results to be employed in the near future, e.g., in the development of novel semiconductor light sources. The Consortium will pay special attention to the protection of their results for possible exploitation. We expect the commercially viable results to be transferred to industry through the network of spin-off companies around TUT and UJ, as the Partner sites have successfully demonstrated earlier.The work also includes a significant educational aspect. Several highly-qualified Ph.D.s with experience in experimental and highly interdisciplinary research will be trained. The work will also contribute to the education of M.Sc.-level scientists.

Funding organization: FinNano Finland

2.17. Metamaterials for photonics, high frequencies and optical networks (Metamatriaux pour la photonique, les hyperfrquences et l'optique des rseaux)
Project description no description available

Funding organization: Programme national Nanosciences - Action concerte Nanosciences 2004, France

2.18. Nonlinear Photonics with Metallic Nanostructures on Top of Dielectrics and Waveguides
Project description In this project we are going to investigate the optical properties of nanoscale mesoscopic metallic nanostructures and of strongly correlated materials. We want to study both isolated and strongly coupled nanoparticles. The optical properties are being investigated by continuous wave and by ultrafast (femtosecond and picosecond) spectroscopy. Metallic nanoparticles are becoming an important building block in nano-optics. However, in order to be able to localize light on a mesoscopic

24

scale, it will be necessary to understand the exact mechanism how light couples to such nanostructures and how its energy is being transferred into electronic excitations (particle plasmons). Furthermore, it is necessary to unterstand how these excitations can transfer to neighboring particles and reradiate back into space. When arranging the particles into a regular metallic nano-structure, it will be necessary to understand the linear and nonlinear optical properties of such metamaterials. Our project aims to clarify the temporal dynamics and the control of light-matter coupling in metallic nanostructures. Strongly correlated materials are believed to have the potential for the fastest optical switches available. However, only a few experiments have so far proven the existence of theoretically calculated quasiparticles in these systems, such as magnons and spinons. Nearly nothing is known about the ultrafast temporal dynamics (lifetime and dephasing) of these quasiparticles. Our project aims to investigate these elementary processes, using state-of-the art and novel ultrafast methods.

Funding organization: DFG Germany Duration: Since 2004 Contact: Harald Giessen Universitt Stuttgart 4. Physikalisches Institut Pfaffenwaldring 57 70569 Stuttgart

2.19. Analysis and Synthesis of resonant Antenna Structures based on Metamaterials (Analyse und Synthese von resonanten Antennenstrukturen basierend auf Metamaterialien)
Project description Description available only in German

Funding organization: DFG Germany Duration: 2005 until 2009 Contact: Ingo Wolff Universitt Duisburg-Essen Fakultt fr Ingenieurwissenschaften Fachgebiet Allgemeine und Theoretische Elektrotechnik (ATE) Bismarckstrae 81 47048 Duisburg

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2.20. ZIK Ultraoptics Project: Design and Implementation of functional Metamaerials by Nanostructuring and Application of those structures in Complex Photonic Systems (ZIK Ultraoptics Projekt: Design und Realisierung hochfunktioneller optischer Metamaterialien durch Nanostrukturierung sowie deren Anwendung in komplexen photonischen Systemen)
Project description no description available Funding organization: BMBF Germany Duration: 01.04.2005 until 31.12.2010

2.21. METAMAT - 3D Photonic Metamaterials (METAMAT - Photonische Metamaterialien - 3D-Metamaterialien)

Project description no description available Funding organization: BMBF Germany Duration: 01.10.2008 until 31.09.2011

2.22. Applicable

verification

of

hybrid

eutectic

systems

for

metamaterials production
Project description Investigation of different chemical compounds for metamaterials production. Funding organization: Nauka Polska (Poland) Start date: 01/01/06 End date: 04.12.06 Keywords: Metamaterial, eutectic structure

2.23. Production eutectic systems by micro-pulling down

Project description Investigation of different chemical compounds for metamaterials production. Funding organization: Nauka Polska (Poland) Start date: 01/01/07 End date: 30/11/07 Keywords: Metamaterial, eutectic structure, TiO2, WO3, BaO, MnTiO3

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2.24. Large area fabrication of 3D negative index metamaterials by Nanoimprint Lithography (NIM_NIL)
Project description Three-dimensional large area metamaterials, especially Negative Index Materials (NIMs) promise to enable numerous novel and breakthrough applications like perfect lenses and cloaking devices, not only but especially if they exhibit the desired properties in the visible frequency range. For the European Photonics industry it is of paramount importance enabling fabricating such materials as soon as possible, to maintain its important position in the areas of optical components and systems as well as production technologies. Till now such materials have not been produced, yet - neither in 3D nor on large areas, let alone both combined. The aim of NIM_NIL is the development of a production process for 3D NIMs in the visible regime combining UV-based Nanoimprint Lithography (UV-NIL) on wafer scale using the new material graphene and innovative geometrical designs. This project will go beyond state-of-the-art in three important topics regarding NIMs: the design, the fabrication using Nanoimprintlithography (NIL) and the optical characterization by ellipsometry. New designs and the new material Graphene will be investigated to extend the existing frequency limit of 900 nm into the visible regime. The fabrication method of choice is UV-NIL since it allows cost efficient large area nanostructuring, which is indispensible if materials like NIMs should be produced on large scale. The negative refraction will be measured using ellipsometry which is a fast and non-destructive method to control the fabrication process. At the end of the project a micro-optical prism made from NIM will be fabricated to directly verify and demonstrate the negative refractive index. Each aspect of innovation within NIM_NIL design, fabrication and characterization of NIMs is represented by experts in this field resulting in a multidisciplinary highly motivated consortium containing participants from basic research as well as industrial endusers from whole Europe. Reference: 228637 Start date: 2009-09-01 Duration: 36 months Project costs: 4.52 million euro Project funding: 3.37 million euro Participants:
SENTECH INSTRUMENTS GMBH, GERMANY GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANALYTISCHEN WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V., GERMANY INSTITUT ZA FIZIKU, SERBIA JENOPTIK POLYMER SYSTEMS GMBH, GERMANY FRIEDRICH-SCHILLER-UNIVERSITAET JENA, GERMANY MICRO RESIST TECHNOLOGY GESELLSCHAFT FUER CHEMISCHE MATERIALIEN SPEZIELLER PHOTORESISTSYSTEME MBH, GERMANY CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE, ITALY FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HELLAS, GREECE UNIVERSITAET LINZ, AUSTRIA

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2.25. NANOSTRUCTURED PHOTONIC METAMATERIALS

Project description Over the last twenty years photonics, the science of light, has played a key role in creating the world as we know it. Today it is impossible to imagine modern society without internet and mobile telephony made possible by the implementation of optical fibre networks, CD's and DVD's underpinned by the development of lasers, modern image display technologies, and laser-assisted manufacturing. We believe that the next photonic revolution will continue to grow, explosively fuelled by a new dependence on a radically different type of photonic materials called metamaterials. Metamaterials are artificial electromagnetic media with unusual and useful functionalities achieved by structuring on a sub-wavelength scale. Nanotechnology-enabled materials are now universally seen as the direction where the global economy will grow strongly in the 21st century. The proposed Programme is at the core of this global movement and focuses on an area of particular interest to the UK - nanophotonics and metamaterials. Our vision for this Programme is to develop a new generation of revolutionary switchable and active nanostructured photonic media thus providing groundbreaking solutions for telecoms, energy, light generation, imaging, lithography, data storage, sensing, and security and defence applications. The Programme will mobilize and focus all of the resources and interdisciplinary expertise available at the University of Southampton and with our collaboration partners in the UK and around the world, to create a world-leading centre of research on Nanostructured Photonic Metamaterials. The elements of adventure and key research challenges in this project can be summarized as follows: we aim to develop photonic media allowing for ultra-high-density integration, the lowest possible energy levels and the highest speeds of optical switching. This will be achieved by advancing the physics of the control, guiding and amplification of light in nanostructures and by developing new nanofabrication techniques and methods of hybridization and integration into the waveguide and fiber environment of different novel metamaterial structures. The main methodological paradigm for the Programme is to achieve new functionalities by developing hybrid photonic metamaterials. The Programme will consist of strongly interlinked projects on fabricating hybrid metamaterials, metamaterials as a platform for photonic devices and fundamental physical experiments, controllable, switchable and active hybrid metamaterials, and developing new ideas emerging from theoretical analysis. Essential to the project will be the new world-leading 105M cleanroom and laboratory Mountbatten complex at the University of Southampton. This proposal is submitted on behalf of an internationally leading team with a formidable research track record that within the last 10 years has led and participated in research projects with funding exceeding 34 millions, published 463 journal research papers and given more than 200 invited talks at major international meetings. The research will be developed in collaboration with key international research groups and industrial laboratories and in this way form a "Global Laboratory" for the project. This high-risk/high-reward Programme will be run by a strong Director-led management team which will benefit from advice from an independent Project Mentor and Advisory Board. Strategic decisions

28

will be made using the "search-and-focus" approach involving regular critical reviews of the research programme under an "active resources and risk management scheme" allowing for the redistribution of resources and usage of reserves where they are most needed and to quickly foster new research directions. Funding organization: EPSRC UK Start date: 01 July 2009 End date: 30 June 2015 Project funding: 5,202,355

2.26. Active Plasmonics and Lossless Metamaterials

Project description Metal surfaces can support so called surface plasmons, density waves of free electrons. These plasmon waves can interact with light, opening the way to a novel area of optics, namely plasmonics. When the metal surface is nanostructured, a possibility for true nanoscale optics emerges. In this work we aim to alleviate or even remove the unavoidable absorption losses caused by the metal by amplifying the plasmon waves with semiconductor quantum wells and dots, thus demonstrating lowloss plasmonic components. They will be designed by novel electromagnetic simulation methods developed during the project, running on a supercomputer cluster. We will also use this approach to design and fabricate novel wide-band low-loss or even lossless metamaterials, highly promising structures with a negative refractive index that can for example slow or even stop incoming light pulses. Funding organization: EPSRC UK Start date: 01 July 2009 End date: 30 June 2012 Project funding: 340,868

2.27. Advanced

Design

and

Control

of

Active

and

Passive

Metamaterials : from Microwaves

Project description Light usually passes through transparent materials in simple ways that science pupils learn at school. However, physicists have recently been examining the possibility of taking a normal transparent material, and inserting tiny metallic inclusions in various shapes and arrangements. As the light passes over these structures tiny currents are set up that generate electric and magnetic fields that modify the way the light travels through the material. The effects can be dramatic leading to slowing light to a few metres per second, or to bending light in very unusual ways / so-called negative refraction. These effects are potentially very useful in all kinds of ways that are only beginning to be understood. Lenses that break traditional diffraction limits are one possibility. An 'invisibility cloak' another. At the more mundane level, the wavelengths that we will be focussing upon (mm) are

29

expected to enhance the performance of cellular telephone networks, designed to handle large area, mobile applications personal communication services/networks, global positioning systems, broadcast satellite television, satellite phone services and automotive electronics. Waves in this part of the spectrum have a fabulous information capacity. The highly directive nature of mm-wave beams, the predicted small size and lightweight of the hardware are also great advantages. The main desire is to unify more than one function in an application (e.g. antenna/filter/generator or amplifier). The progress towards higher frequencies, coupled to miniaturization, increases the bandwidth and information capacity. The metallic inclusions are much smaller than the wavelength of light so that as far as the light is concerned the material with inclusions behaves as a uniform effective medium, or a metamaterial. The research is therefore a concerted theoretical platform activity aimed at creating the best design and understanding of metamaterials obtained so far. We will be focussing on design solutions that will address some of the known problems associated with metamaterials as well as others not known at this stage. Loss is a major issue that we will address through the design of metallic inclusions that are actively controlled by applying external currents. Salford will address loss control and elimination by using active diode additions to traditional ring and omega particle structures. Chiral, or handed, inclusions will provide smart artificial molecules that are expected to have completely new properties. These expectations will require new and deeper insights into the equations that describe how electromagnetic fields interact with matter, and so will be extended to embrace the ideas of nonlinearity (i.e. output is not proportional to input) and nolocality (memory). Surrey will adopt a specific modelling approach that will bridge the gap between methods used at the microscopic nanomaterials level and techniques previously used for macroscopic multilayered structures. They will examine ordered/disordered arrays of inclusions as conceived by Salford. Surrey will pursue new ideas of using metamaterials to slow down light that rely on geometry rather than resonance effects. Imperial will address fundamental aspects related to plasmonics. Issues of definition also need to be addressed so that our codes will be written with the utmost robustness and reliability. Funding organization: EPSRC UK Start date: 15 August 2007 End date: 14 August 2010 Project funding: 332,058

2.28. Negative index metamaterials for visible-light optics

Project description Recent advances in nanofabrication allow one to create new composite metamaterials with constituents of different forms and sizes down to nanoscales. These materials have attracted considerable interest as they offer a possibility to realise a negative index of refraction with many surprising properties important for optics, communication and electronics. Nanocomposite

metamaterials also promise a whole variety of amazing applications, e.g., a perfect lens producing a

30

perfect image of an object, a nanolens focusing light into a sub-wavelength spot, a nanolaser amplifying near-fields through a stimulated emission of radiation.

We have recently designed and nanofabricated the first artificial metamaterial with negative index of refraction at visible-light frequencies. In this material the high frequency magnetic response is produced by collective oscillations of electrons in coupled pairs of gold nanopillars. We have confirmed the extraordinary properties of the new media by observing the impedance matching effect (previously known only for radio-wave frequencies) and a large enhancement of the electric field in the immediate proximity of individual nanomolecules. It was only the relatively large dissipation and small thickness of the fabricated nanocomposites that did not allow us to observe the effect of negative refraction. This proposal aims to expand our initial findings into a viable research programme based on our current competitive advantage in exploration of negative index metamaterials. We will design composite nanomaterials made from coupled metallic nanoelements with stronger magnetic and electric response at frequencies of visible light. The main focus of our research will be engineering of negative index materials with low dissipation, which is a key element to developing new optical devices including the perfect lens. We plan to fabricate new optical composite nanomaterials, study their extraordinary electromagnetic properties and assess some of their applications, which we believe are the most promising and within our expertise (feasibility study of a perfect lens and a nanolens, biosensing, etc.). Funding organization: EPSRC UK Start date: 12 February 2007 End date: 11 February 2010 Project funding: 468,874

2.29. Building Ceramic Metamaterials from Nanoparticles: A combined Modelling, Tomography and In-situ Loading Study
Project description Materials characterization is crucial for the quantification and prediction of their physical, chemical and mechanical properties: Molecular simulation has provided experiment with unique insight and prediction for over 60 years. However, new (nano)materials are being synthesized with ever increasing structural complexity and it may soon prove impossible to generate models that are sufficiently realistic to describe them adequately. Molecular simulations proceed by using the symmetry of the system, together with the coordinates of the basis atoms to generate a crystallographic array, periodic in three dimensions. Here, we pioneer a new systematic approach to prescribe the structure of a nanomaterial. Specifically, a simulation code will enable the systematic generation of a nanostructure by exploiting the space symmetry of the nanomaterial and positioning nanoparticles, rather than atoms, at basis positions;

31

molecular dynamics will be used to enable the nanobuilding blocks to formulate the walls of the nanomaterial. In parallel, experiment (bottom up) will be used to synthesise nanoparticles including their selfassembly into order-connected and disordered-connected superstructures. Top down approaches to fabricate nanoscale architectures will be achieved by focused field-emission electron beams, which will drill nanoarchitectures into single crystals with sub 10nm resolution. Central to the experimental work will be the verification and validation of the modelling process. One key-technology, which can resolve areas deep within the nanostructure, is nanotomography. Here tomographic techniques in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) will be used to map the 3D elemental distribution and 3D morphology (faceting distribution) such that quantitative parameters, including connectivity and surface area can be extracted. This 3D metrology data will be compared directly to the modelling predictions. Tomographic techniques will be used to characterise the metamaterials in three-dimensions and will not only provide unprecedented insight into the structural architectures deep within the nanomaterials, but also provide essential validation for the atomistic models. Equipped with (validated) structural models, mechanical properties, such as Youngs modulus, elastic constants will be calculated and stress-strain curves simulated together with chemical properties, including surface reactivity (catalysis, sensor) and ionic transport (fuel cells, rechargeable batteries). Nanomechanical testing: Innovative in-situ nanoscale mechanical deformation tests with local force determination using Sheffield's In-Situ TEM NanoLAB facility will be used to measure the mechanical properties. This will provide fundamental insight into the engineering rules at the nanoscale and validate the mechanical property simulations. Compression and tensile testing in the specimen chamber of a TEM we will extract key-parameters on mechanical elastic and plastic properties, which will be compared with modelling predictions. Mechanical tests provide a stringent test of the model because they will necessarily be influenced by the structure on all three hierarchical levels of complexity - polymorphic structure, micro-structure (grain-boundaries, dislocations, point defects) and nanostructure. Once the simulated properties have been validated, they will be used predictively: Correlation tables will be constructed to explore how the nano(structure) influences the properties. We propose that the flawless nature in synergy with the architecture of entirely near-surface nanomaterials will proffer unique mechanical and chemical properties. For the bulk analogue, defects such as impurities, inclusions, dislocations and twin boundary generation mechanisms provide vehicles for fracture and plastic collapse. Conversely, a nanomaterial, with no such defective microstructure and restrictive dislocation mechanics, will sustain remarkable loadings. Funding organization: EPSRC UK Start date: 01 November 2009 End date: 31 October 2012 Project funding: 265,403

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2.30. NANOSTRUCTURED PHOTONICS

Project description

METAFILMS:

NEW

PARADIGM

FOR

The proposed research introduces a special type of metamaterials, namely planar metamaterials (or metafilms), for practical photonic applications. As a result, a whole new class of extremely compact (low-dimensional) photonic devices that replace the existing bulk optical components (such as spectral filters, polarizers, waveplates, beam splitters etc.) is envisaged. But more importantly artificial planar media allows achieving exotic photonic functionalities (e.g. optical superconductor, asymmetric transmission) that are hardly possible with the use of conventional bulk optical materials. Moreover, the research aims to add a new dimension to the concept of planar metamaterials, and therefore dramatically expand the range of available photonic functionalities, by combining electronic/molecular response of media and metamaterial resonances due to structuring. Funding organization: EPSRC UK Start date: 01 October 2008 End date: 30 September 2013 Project funding: 592,915

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3. Literature survey
3.1. Overview of publications
Publications on metamaterials have increased exponentially during last 7 years. In the figures below is shown the number of papers on metamaterials as well as in their different main applications (source: ISI Web of Knowledge)
Papers published on Metamaterials (source: ISI Web of Knowledge) 2000 1800 1600 1400
Metamaterials

1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Figure 1 Papers published on Metamaterials over the period 2001-2008 (source: ISI Web of Knowledge)

Papers published on Cloaking (source: ISI Web of Knowledge) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 Cloaking

Figure 2 Papers published on Cloaking over the period 2006-2009 (source: ISI Web of Knowledge)

34

Papers published on Negative-index (source: ISI Web of Knowledge) 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Negative-index

Figure 3 Papers published on Negative-index over the period 2001-2008 (source: ISI Web of Knowledge)

Papers published on Superlenses (source: ISI Web of Knowledge) 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2002

Superlenses

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Figure 4 Papers published on Superlenses over the period 2002-2008 (source: ISI Web of Knowledge)

As it can be seen on the top figure, only a few papers were published at the beginning of the 2000s while over 1800 articles could be found for the year 2008. It is worth to note the increasingly importance of some phenomena as inherently linked to metamaterials nanostructures such as cloaking, optical negative index metamaterials, and superlenses since 2008, showing the recent interest aroused by the latest developments and improvements in this area of photonics.

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3.2. Metamaterial antennas

The idea of using metamaterials for fabrication of antennas was first explained by Ziolkowski [1] and Guarnero [2] in 2001 when reporting a material with negative electrical permittivity and negative magnetic permeability.

In 2002, Enoch et al. presented a metamaterial for directive emissions [3]. In this case the metamaterial is not a split-ring resonator but made of several layers of a metallic mesh of thin wires (with wires in the three directions of space) and slices of foam. Interestingly the permittivity of this material, above the plasma frequency can be positive and less than one. This means that the refractive index is less than one, but hardly above zero. In this case, the relevant parameter is often the contrast between the permittivities rather than the permittivity itself. This occurs because the equivalent permittivity has a behavior governed by a plasma frequency in the microwave domain. This low optical index material then becomes a good candidate for creation of extremely convergent microlenses. Wu et al. [4] confirmed the analysis of Enoch and his group by using commercially available software to simulate the radiation of an antenna embedded in a metamaterial substrate.

Alici and zbay investigated in 2006 the possibility of using metamaterials to enhance the radiated power of antennas [5]. According to both investigators, materials which can produce negative permeability could possibly allow for properties such as an electrically small antenna size, high directivity, and tunable operational frequency. They demonstrated that a SRR composite behaves like an electrically small antenna (/10) operating at the resonance frequency of the SRR. This antenna can be used instead of the planar patch antennas in some applications. Secondly, by introducing multi-SRRs beam direction shifts can be observed. The authors believe that this property might lead to steerable antennas that are composed of SRRs.

Eleftheriades and Balmain described metamaterial antennas employing negative refractive index transmission-line metamaterials (NRI-TLM) [6]. These include lenses that can overcome the diffraction limit, small-band and broad-band phase shifting lines, small antennas, low-profile antennas, antennafeed networks, novel power architectures, and high-directivity couplers. A novel approach for implementing NRI-TLM is loading a planar metamaterial network of transmission lines with series capacitors and shunt inductors, which has a higher performance than standard transmission lines. This results in a large operating bandwidth while the refractive index is negative. Because superlenses can overcome the diffraction limit, this allows for a more efficient coupling to the external radiation, and enables the availability for a broader band of frequency.

The development of metamaterial antennas has been so important over the past few years that Rayspan, an American company funded in 2006, currently offers commercially-available antennas made of metamaterials [7]. The company recently reported the sale of 20 million antennas since its creation in 2006. According to their webpage, their ultra-compact antennas offer superior

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communication speed, range and mobility than standard antennas. Their product is therefore suited for wireless communication systems. For example, Rayspan provides, among others, Netgear with a wireless gigabit router providing twice the bandwidth with less interference. The internal metamaterial antennas are fine-tuned for each frequency band, delivering maximum range more than doubling the throughput.

[1] R. W. Ziolkowski, Superluminal transmission of information through an electromagnetic metamaterial, Phys. Rev. E 63 (4), 046604 (2001) [2] S. Guarnero, Metamaterial material engineering inverts the classic laws of physics, Electtronica Oggi 306, 76 (2001) [3] S. Enoch, G. Tayeb, P. Sabourouz, N. Guerin, and P. Vincent, A metamaterial f or directive emission, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (21), 213902-1 (2002) [4] B.-I. Wu, W. Wang, J. Pacheco, X. Chen, T. Grzegorczyk, and J. A. Kong, A study of using metamaterial as antenna substrates to enhance gain, Progress in Electromagnetic Research 51 295 (2005) [5] K. B. Alici, and E. zbay, Radiation properties of a split ring resonator and monopole composite, Phys. Stat. Sol. 244 (4), 1192 (2007) [6] G. V. Eleftheriades, and K. G. Balmain, Negative Refraction Metamaterials: Fundamental Principles and Applications, John Wiley, New Jersey (2005) [7] www.rayspan.com

3.3. Cloaking
The possibility of using cloaking devices is recent, at least in terms of scientific research. The idea is to develop materials that would allow objects to be invisible in some frequency ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The first demonstration of such a concept was performed by Schurig et al. In 2006 [1]. This group from Duke University showed that a copper cylinder was hidden inside a cloak made of artificially-designed metamaterial structure designed for operating in the microwave frequency range. Using a geometrical transformation, they demonstrated that the material properties ( and ) were dependent on the geometry of the cloak. Split-ring resonators, tailored to match the desired conditions, had the 3mmside squared-shape of thickness 0.2mm. The squares edges were rounded (with a radius r) and the square, instead of being closed, was terminated by two arms of length s directed towards the centre of the square [1]. The two parameteres r and s were modified as a function of the cylinders radius.

Some physical insights on the cloaking technique were given by Al and Engheta [2,3]. They explained how the use of homogeneous isotropic plasmonic and metamaterial covers may drastically reduce the scattered field from 3D impenetrable objects of dimensions comparable with the wavelength, effectively providing a cloaking technique. Full-wave simulations and animations of the

37

mechanism underlying this cloaking effect (when a conducting or highly plasmonic object is to be cloaked) were provided. The results reported clearly show how the anti-phase scattering properties of properly designed plasmonic covers may be effective in making transparent conducting, plasmonic, as well as dielectric objects of dimensions comparable with the operating wavelength. This technique relies on metamaterials with homogenous and isotropic properties and it can be easily applied to fully 3D objects. Using different numerical examples, Al and Engheta also showed how the sensitivity to the geometrical parameters, shape, frequency or presence of losses is relatively weak in this scheme, since it does not rely on any resonant effect. This is believed to be a clear advantage in practical situations.

The same group developed the idea of employing plasmonic covers to cloak an isolated conducting, plasmonic or insulating sphere through scattering cancellation [4] and extended this concept by investigating the possibility of cloaking multiple objects placed in close proximity of each other, or even joined together to form a single object of large electrical size. It was shown how the coupling among the single particles, even when placed in the very near zone of each other, is drastically lowered by the presence of suitably designed covers, thus providing the possibility of making collections of objects transparent and cloaked to the impinging radiation even when the total physical size of the system is sensibly larger than the wavelength. Numerical simulations and animations were presented to validate these results and give further insights into the anomalous phenomenon of transparency and cloaking induced by plasmonic materials and metamaterials.

Following the work by Al and Engheta, Kant et al. proposed an electromagnetic cloak, which exploits the electric response of gold split-ring resonators instead of their magnetic response [5]. Numerical simulations performed at infrared frequencies (f=100THz) reveal low loss and weak impedance mismatch, therefore proving the interest in using SRRs as a basic structure for the design of metamaterials. The group also showed that SRRs can be ultimately replaced by simple cut wires for the construction of approximate electromagnetic cloaks whose dielectric permittivity is the only parameter varying with space coordinates.

Another possible design for a cloak uses transformation optics, in which a conformal coordinate transformation is applied to Maxwells equations to obtain a spatially distributed set of constitutive parameters that define the cloak. Recently, Liu et al. presented an experimental realization of a cloak design that conceals a perturbation on a flat conducting plane, under which an object can be hidden [6]. To match the complex spatial distribution of the required constitutive parameters, a metamaterial consisting of thousands of elements was constructed, the geometry of each element determined by an automated design process. The so-called ground-plane cloak was realized with the use of nonresonant metamaterial elements, resulting in a structure having a broad operational bandwidth (covering the range of 13 to 16 gigahertz in our experiment) and exhibiting extremely low loss. The experimental results obtained indicated that this type of cloak should scale well toward optical wavelengths. 38

[1] D. Schurig, J. J. Mock, B. J. Justice, S. A. Cummer, J. B. Pendry, A. F. Starr, and D. R. Smith, Metamaterial electromagnetic cloak at microwave frequencies, Science 314, 977 (2006) [2] A. Al, and N. Engheta, Plasmonic materials in transparency and cloaking problems: Mechanism, robustness and physical insights, Opt. Express 15 (6), 3318 (2007) [3] M. G. Silveirinha, A. Al, and N. Engheta, Parallel-plate metamaterials for cloaking structures, Phys. Rev. E 75, 036603 (2007) [4] A. Al, and N. Engheta, Achieving transparency with plasmonic and metamaterial coatings, Phys. Rev. E 72, 016623 (2005) [5] B. Kant, A. de Lustrac, J.-M. Lourtioz, and S. N. Burokur, Infrared cloaking based on the electric response of split ring resonators, Opt. Express 16 (12), 9192 (2008) [6] R. Liu, C. Ji, J. J. Mock, J. Y. Chin, T. J. Cui, and D. R. Smith, Broadband ground -plate cloak, Science 323, 366 (2009)

3.4. Superlenses
A superlens is a lens capable of subwavelength operation. Unlike classical optical lenses,

superlenses resolution is not restricted by the diffraction limit, therefore allowing for magnification of near field rays. This new type of optical lens was first described by John Pendry in 2000 [1]. In this paper, Pendry identified the capacity of imaging subwavelengthdimension objects such as atoms as the main limit of standard optical lenses. Using a slab of negative refractive index material, he demonstrated that all Fourier components of a twodimension image can be focused. Showing that the evanescent field decay can be cancelled using this so-called meta-material, he deduced that both propagating and evanescent waves contribute to the resolution of the image. This conclusion leads to the possibility of perfect reconstruction of image through the lens beyond practical limitations of aperture and perfection of lens surface. Although this demonstration could have been made independently from the development of metamaterials, it would have been of no interest without the possibility of fabricating such a device, as emphasized by Pendry. However, using results given by Sievenpiper et al. [2], and Pendry et al. [3] who demonstrated that wire structures with lattice spacings of the order of a few millimeters behave like a plasma with a resonant frequency, ep, in the GHz region. Using such structure at a frequency <ep allows the dielectric response to be negative. It was also demonstrated by Pendy et al. [4] as well as Smith et al. [5], that a structure containing loops of conducting wires has properties similar to magnetic plasma allowing the permeability of the structure to be negative at some frequencies. Using these different results, Pendry [1] demonstrated the possibility of

39

producing a structure closely approaching the conditions: = -1 and = -1. Simulations showed that a version of that superlens operating in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum (=356nm) could be realized in the form of a thin slab of silver, allowing the resolution of objects of only few nanometers. Such a result represents a milestone to the fabrication of perfect optical lenses such as the one described by Pendry.
In 2005, two different groups experimentally verified the results demonstrated by Pendry five years earlier. Fang et al. [6] demonstrated subdiffraction-limited imaging with 60-nanometer half-pitch resolution, or one-sixth of the illumination wavelength (=356nm). By properly designing the thickness of silver that allows access to a broad spectrum of subwavelength features, they also showed that arbitrary nanostructures can be imaged with good fidelity. The objects were placed about 40 nm away from the 35-nm silver film, and imaged onto a photoresist on the other side of the silver film under ultraviolet (UV) illumination (at a wavelength of 365 nm). Using focused-ion beam lithography, the chrome objects were patterned on quartz and then planarized, using a 40-nm-thick layer of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The word NANO written with a linewidth of 40nm was imaged using the fabricated silver lens. Similarly, Melville and Blaikie [7] used extremely flat (roughness of 1nm) 50nmthin films of silver to image gratings with different periods (from 500nm down to 40nm) illuminated with a mercury lamp (=356nm). The fabrication of the superlens was done by conformal-mask photolithography. Tungsten masks were patterned onto a conformable glass substrate using electronbeam lithography followed by the deposition of additional dielectric spacer and silver lens layers. The finished masks were then brought into vacuum contact with a resist stack for lithographic exposures. The first dielectric layer had two functions: providing a means of spacing the silver from the mask, and planarizing the tungsten mask to smooth out the uneven topology before the silver lens layer is deposited. This planarization was critical to the experiment, as if there was significant topography transferred through to the silver then any images that result may have been caused by this instead of the desired planar lensing property.

[1] J. B. Pendry, Negative refraction makes a perfect lens, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 (18), 3966 (2000) [2] D. F. Sievenpiper, M. E. Sickmiller, and E. Yablonovitch, 3D wire mesh photonic crystals, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2480 (1996) [3] J. B. Pendry, A. J. Holden, D. J. Robbins, and W. J. Stewart, Low frequency plasmons in thin -wire structures, J. Phys. Condens. Matter 10, 4785 (1998) [4] J. B. Pendry, A. J. Holden, D. J. Robbins, and W. J. Stewart, Magnetism from conductors and enhanced non-linear phenomena, IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. 47, 2075 (1999) [5] D. R. Smith, Willie J. Padilla, D. C. Vier, S. C. Nemat-Nasser, and S. Schultz, Composite medium with simultaneously negative permeability and permittivity, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4184 (2000) [6] N. Fang, H. Lee, C. Sun, and X. Zhang, Sub-diffraction-limited optical imaging with a silver superlens, Science 308, 534 (2005)

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[7] D. O. S. Melville, and R. J. Blaikie, Super -resolution imaging through a planar silver layer, Opt. Express 13 (6), 2127 (2005) 3.5. 3.5 References In order to complete the information gathered by the previous description, a list of the most remarkable publications on metmaterials is given below. Most of the information summarized in this report, and not referenced in the previous sections, has been based on these publications.

[1] [2]

R. N. Bracewell, Wireless Eng. 31, 320 (1954) W. Cai, U. K. Chettiar, A. V. Kildishev, and V. M. Shalaev, Designs for optical cloaking with high-order transformations, Opt. Express 16 (8), 5444 (2008)

[3]

C. Caloz, and T. Itoh, Electromagnetic Metamaterials: Transmission Line Theory and Microwave Applications, Wiley-IEEE Press, New Jersey, USA, (2005)

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

X. L. Chen, et al., Phys. Rev. B 72, 113111 (2005) Y. F. Chen, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 067402 (2005) G. Dolling, et al., Opt. Lett. 30, 3198 (2005) T. Driscoll, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 081101 (2006) N. Engheta, and R. W. Ziolkowski, Electromagnetic Metamaterials: Physics and Engineering Explorations, Wiley-IEEE Press, New Jersey, USA, (2006)

[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

C. Enkrich, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 203901 (2005) S. Foteinopoulou, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 107402 (2003) N. Garcia, and M. Nieto-Vesperinas, Opt. Lett. 27, 885 (2002) A. Grbic, and G. V. Eleftheriades, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 117403 (2004) C. L. Holloway, et al., IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat. 51, 2596 (2003) A. A. Houck, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 137401 (2003) J. Li, and J. B. Pendry, Hiding under the carpet: a new strategy for cloaking, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 203901 (2008)

[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

Z. Q. Li, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 223506 (2005) Z. Q. Li, et al., Nano Lett. 6, 224 (2006) S. Linden, et al., Science 306, 1351 (2004) P. F. Loschialpo, et al., Phys. Rev. E 67, 025602 (2003) W. T. Lu, et al., Phys. Rev. E 69, 026604 (2004) C. Luo, et al., Phys. Rev. B 65, 201104 (2002) J. Pacheco, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 257401 (2002) W. J. Padilla, et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23, 404 (2006) W. J. Padilla, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 107401 (2006) W. J. Padilla, et al., Materials Today 9, 7 (2005) C. G. Parazzoli, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 107401 (2003) P. V. Parimi, et al., Nature 426, 404 (2003)

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[28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45]

J. B. Pendry, and D. R. Smith, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 029703 (2003) J. B. Pendry, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 4773 (1996) A. Pimenov, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 24700949 (2005) D. Schurig, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 041109 (2006) V. M. Shalaev, et al., Opt. Lett. 30, 3356 (2005) R. A. Shelby, et al., Science 292, 77 (2001) C. M. Soukoulis, et al., Science 47, 315 (2007) T. Timusk, and P. L. Richards, Appl. Opt. 20, 1355 (1981) R. Ulrich, Infrared Phys. 7, 37 (1966) P. M. Valanju, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 187401 (2002) M. S. Wheeler, et al., Phys. Rev. B 73, 045105 (2006) M. C. K. Wiltshire, et al., Science 291, 849 (2001) T. J. Yen, et al., Science 303, 1494 (2004) S. Zhang, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 137404 (2005) S. Zhang, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 37402 (2005) J. Zhou, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 223902 (2005) Issue about Focus on Negative Refraction, New J. Phys. 7 (2005) Issue about Focus on Metamaterials, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23 (2006)

4. Current applications
In this chapter, the results of a patent search performed on http://ep.espacenet.com for the search terms listed below is given.

Keywords: metamaterials, metamaterial, cloaking

4.1. Information and Communication Technologies

4.1.1 Optical interconnect devices and structures based on metamaterials - US 2008212921 (A1) Summary Improved optical interconnect devices, structures, and methods of making and using the devices and structures are provided. The optical interconnect devices, which can be used to connect components or route signals in an integrated-circuit or circuits, generally include an optical element having a metamaterial with a negative index of refraction. The optical element is configured to receive an optical signal from a first component and transmit the optical signal to a second component. Each

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interconnect device or structure can be fabricated to have a small size and complex functionalities integrated therein. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

4.1.2 Negative-refraction metamaterials using continuous metallic grids over ground for controlling and guiding electromagnetic radiation - US 2008204164 (A1) Summary For the cost effective implementation of negative-index refraction, an anisotropic hyperbolic planar metamaterial comprising a first set of substantially parallel, unloaded and coplanar transmission lines (being spaced with a periodicity dy), a second set of substantially parallel, unloaded and coplanar transmission lines, (being spaced with a periodicity dx), further being coplanar and substantially orthogonal with the first set of transmission lines, wherein the periodicities of first set and second set of transmission lines being governed by the following relationship:
x

( f )dx

( f )dy

where x and y are the intrinsic propagation constants of electromagnetic waves of frequency f propagating along the first and second set of transmission lines, respectively. 4.1.3 Use of left-handed metamaterials as a display, particularly on a hob, as well as display and display method - US 2007267406 (A1) Summary Coatings with left-handed metamaterials, which are man-made materials comprising microstructures having unusual electro-magnetic properties, are provided around an appliance, such as a hotplate or hob, incorporating induction heating coils that functions as an optical display. In one embodiment, operation of induction heating coils in the cook top alters the optical properties of the metamaterial. Therefore, if the metamaterials were previously transparent, they may become opaque. Doing so changes the display, which can be detected by an operator. This makes possible creating an automatic operating display for an appliance, such as an induction based hob.

4.1.4 Nonlinear optical devices based on metamaterials - WO 2007133727 (A1) Summary This patent describes an apparatus including one or more optical couplers, an optical medium, and an optical pump source. The optical medium behaves as a negative refractive index material over a frequency range. The one or more optical couplers are configured to provide first and second optical inputs to the optical medium and to provide an optical output from the optical medium. The optical pump source is coupled by one of the one or more optical couplers to deliver pump light to the optical medium.

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4.1.5 Antennas, devices and systems based on metamaterial structures - US 2008258981 (A1) Summary

In this patent, techniques, apparatus and systems that comprise one or more composite left and right handed metamaterial structures in processing and handling electromagnetic wave signals are presented. Antenna, antenna arrays and other RF devices can be formed based on composite left and right handed metamaterial structures. The described composite left and right handed metamaterial structures can be used in wireless communication RF frontend and antenna sub-systems.
4.1.6 Metamaterial antenna arrays with radiation pattern shaping and beam switching - US 2008258993 (A1) Summary This invention describes several apparatus, systems and techniques for using composite left and right handed metamaterial structure antenna elements and arrays to provide radiation pattern shaping and beam switching.

4.1.7 Single-Feed

Multi-Cell

Metamaterial

Antenna

Devices

US2009251385 (A1) Summary In this patent designs and techniques of composite right-left handed (CRLH) metamaterial antenna devices are presented, including CRLH metamaterial devices that comprise metamaterial cells formed on a substrate and a conductive launch stub formed on the substrate to be adjacent to each of the metamaterial cells and electromagnetically coupled to each of the cells.

4.1.8 Tunable delay system and corresponding method - WO 2008116289 (A1) Summary The present invention relates to a tunable delay system and corresponding method for delaying a signal. The system includes an oscillator for providing a carrier and a first mixer modulates the signal with the carrier. The modulated signal is delayed in a metamaterial transmission line. Afterwards, a second mixer is used to separate the delayed signal from the carrier. This invention also relates to using a metamaterial transmission line for delaying a modulated signal.

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4.1.9 Compact dual-band resonator using anisotropic metamaterial - US 2008204327 (A1) Summary A dual-band resonator with compact size, such as a resonant type dual-band antenna, which uses an anisotropic metamaterial is described. The artificial anisotropic medium is implemented by employing a composite right/left-handed transmission line. The dispersion relation and the antenna physical size only depend on the composition of the unit cell and the number of cells used. By engineering the characteristics of the unit cells to be different in two orthogonal directions, the corresponding propagation constants can be controlled, thus enabling dual-band antenna resonances. In addition, the antenna dimensions can be markedly minimized by maximally reducing the unit cell size. A dualband antenna is also described which is designed for operation at frequencies for PCS/Bluetooth applications, and which has a physical size of 1/180 x 1/180 x 1/190, where 0 is the free space wavelength equal 2.37 GHz.

4.1.10 Metamaterial structures for light processing and methods of processing light - WO 2008094543 (A1) Summary This patent describes a metamaterial structure for light processing including a light guide and a composite resonant electromagnetic structure having a resonant frequency. The composite resonant electromagnetic structure is arranged to interact with light propagating along the light guide to upconvert a frequency of the light to the resonant frequency, which generates second and higher harmonics of the light frequency. Methods of processing light are also presented.

4.1.11 Method and apparatus for reduced coupling and interference between antennas Summary This patent describes antennas and scattering elements having a metamaterial cloak configured that allows reducing effects on the operating parameters of a nearby antenna. For example, a cloak is disposed around an antenna operating at a frequency range in which the cloak is also operative. The antenna frequency can lie outside the frequency range of the cloak, whereas the frequency of a second antenna lies within the frequency range of the cloak. In such a case, the first antenna will be cloaked relative to the second antenna.

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4.2. Environment
4.2.1 Molecular and photonic nanostructures, optical biomaterials, photosensitizers, molecular contrast agents, and metamaterials - WO 2008130383 (A2) Summary This patent generally relates to new photo-physical characteristics associated with certain macromolecules, heterogeneous phases with a pronounced index of refraction contrast, and biological complex macromolecules. Given this, in one embodiment the present invention relates to new processes, methods and applications, for enhancing signals and images. In another embodiment, the present invention includes the design and development of scalable imaging systems and techniques, optical instrumentation and lenses, systems engineering, photonics and optoelectronics, low-power microelectronics, micronanotechnology, and sensing/biosensing applications for various applications (e.g., life science applications).

4.3. Health & Well-Being

4.3.1 Photonic funnels and anisotropic waveguides for subdiffraction light compression and pulse management at the nanoscale - US 2008219628 (A1) Summary The present invention provides an apparatus which allows propagation of electromagnetic radiation of a selected vacuum wavelength beyond the diffraction limit. The apparatus comprises a waveguide core and a cladding disposed about the core. The waveguide core may include a material with an anisotropic dielectric permittivity, with the optical axis of the material primarily aligned with direction of light propagation. In addition, the waveguide core may have a cross-sectional dimension smaller than about half the selected wavelength at least at one portion of the waveguide core. The cross-sectional dimension of the waveguide core may decrease along the length of the waveguide core creating a taper to provide a photonic funnel. The waveguide core may include a homogeneous anisotropic material, anisotropic metamaterial, or a photonic crystal.

4.4. Safety & Security

4.4.1 Efficient terahertz sources by optical rectification in photonic crystals and metamaterials exploiting tailored transverse dispersion relations - US 2007297734 (A1)

Summary

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A system and a method for generating terahertz radiation are provided in this patent. The system includes a photonic crystal structure comprising at least one nonlinear material that enables optical rectification. The photonic crystal structure is configured to have the suitable transverse dispersion relations and enhanced density photonic states therefore allowing terahertz radiation to be emitted efficiently when an optical or near infrared pulse travels through the nonlinear part of the photonic crystal.
4.4.2 Active terahertz metamaterial devices - WO 2008121159 (A2) Summary Metamaterial structures, which provide for the modulation of terahertz frequency signals, are shown. Each element within an array of metamaterial elements comprises multiple loops and at least one gap. The metamaterial elements may include resonators with conductive loops and insulated gaps, or the inverse in which insulated loops are present with conductive gaps, each providing useful transmissive control properties. The metamaterial elements are fabricated on a semiconductor substrate configured with means of enhancing or depleting electrons from near the gaps of the metamaterial elements. An on-to-off transmissivity ratio of about one half is achieved by making use of this approach. Embodiments are described in which the metamaterial elements incorporated within a quantum cascade laser to provide surface emitting properties.

4.4.3 Three-dimensional left-handed metamaterial - WO 2008120556 (A1) Summary A three-dimensional left-handed metamaterial of totally new constitution functioning as a threedimensional electromagnetic wave propagation medium in which the equivalent permittivity and permeability of the medium have negative values simultaneously is presented. The three dimensional left-handed metamaterials of such a structure as cubic unit lattices are arranged repeatedly in three orthogonal directions of a three-dimensional space which has first particulate bodies of conductor arranged around each vertex of the unit lattice, second particulate bodies of conductor arranged around the center of each face of the unit lattice, first coupling portions of conductor for coupling the first particulate bodies and the central point of the unit lattice, and second coupling portions of conductor for coupling the second particulate bodies and the central point of the unit lattice.

4.4.4 Security mark - WO 2008110775 (A1) Summary A security mark that includes a metamaterial designed such that the properties of this metamaterial provides authentication of the security mark described. The metamaterial may have a negative refractive index. Moreover, an article may be secured by applying the metamaterial to the article such that the properties of the metamaterial authenticate the article. The metamaterial may be arranged to form an image when illuminated by terahertz radiation. 47

4.4.5 System, method and apparatus for cloaking - US 2008165442 (A1) Summary An apparatus and method of cloaking are described. An object to be cloaked is disposed such that the cloaking apparatus is between the object and an observer. The appearance of the object is altered and, in the limit, the object cannot be observed in such a manner that the background appears unobstructed. The cloak is formed of a metamaterial where the properties of the metamaterial are varied as a function of distance from the cloak interfaces, and the permittivity is less than unity. The metamaterial may be fabricated as a composite material having a dielectric component and inclusions of particles of sub-wavelength size, so as to have a permeability substantially equal to unity.

4.4.6 Electromagnetic cloaking method - CA 2590307 (A1)

Summary
A method of constructing a concealing volume comprises constructing a plurality of concealing volume elements around a concealable volume. Each concealing volume element has a material parameter arranged to direct a propagating wav e around the concealable volume. 4.4.7 Active radar system

Summary
An example of radar system for a vehicle comprises a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam, and a lens assembly including at least one active lens assembly, through which the radar beam passes. The radar beam has a field of view that is adjustable using the active lens. In some examples, the active lens comprises a metamaterial, the metamaterial having an adjustable property such as an adjustable negative index, the field of view being adjustable using the adjustable property of the metamaterial.

4.5. Others
4.5.1 Metamaterials and resonance materials based on composites of liquid crystal colloids and nano particles - SI 22508 (A) Summary This invention describes metamaterials and/or resonance materials based on composites of liquid crystal colloids and nanoparticles as well as the procedure of their manufacture. According to the patent, the nanoparticles are segregated in the area of topological defects created by colloid parts integrated in the liquid crystal layer. The nanoparticles are localised in the vicinity of topological defects which are either localised or delocalised where the size of the nanoparticles is smaller from the size of colloid particles preferably in the size of the topological defect.

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4.5.2 Metamaterials and resonant materials based on liquid crystal dispersions of colloidal particles and nanoparticles - EP 1975656 (A1) Summary This invention presents a class of metamaterials and/or resonant materials and the method of their production, whereby nanoparticles are segregated in the regions of topological defects, which are formed by inclusion of colloidal particles in a layer of a nematic liquid crystal. The nanoparticles are localized in the vicinity of topological defects, which can themselves be localized or delocalized, whereas the size of the nanoparticles is smaller than the size of the colloidal particles, preferably of the size of the diameter of the defect.

4.5.3 Enhanced substrate using metamaterials - WO 2007069224 (A2) Summary In enhancing signal quality through packages, metamaterials may be used. Metamaterials are designed to make the signal act in such a way as to make the shape of the signal behave as though the permittivity and permeability are different than the real permittivity and permeability of the insulator used. In an example embodiment, a substrate is configured as a metamaterial. This metamaterial provides noise protection for a signal line having a pre-determined length disposed on the material mentioned. The substrate comprises a dielectric material having a topside surface and an underside surface. A conductive material is arranged into pre-determined shapes having a collective length. Dielectric material envelops the conductive material and the conductive material is disposed at a first predetermined distance from the topside surface and at a second predetermined distance from the underside surface. The collective length of the conductive material is comparable to the predetermined length of the signal line.

4.5.4 Fabrication of semiconductor metamaterials - US 2008138571 (A1) Summary A method of fabricating a semiconductor metamaterial is provided, comprising a sample of engineered microstructured material that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation and one or more elongate, high aspect ratio voids, passing through the voids a high pressure fluid comprising a semiconductor material carried in a carrier fluid, and causing the semiconductor material to deposit onto the surface of one or more voids of the engineered microstructured material to form the metamaterial. Many microstructured materials and semiconductor materials can be used, together with various techniques for controlling the location, spatial extent, and thickness of the deposition of the semiconductor within the microstructured material, so that a wide range of different metamaterials can be produced.

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4.5.5 Variable metamaterial apparatus - WO 2007098061 (A2) Summary Artificial materials, including metamaterials, exhibit adjustable properties. In some approaches the properties are adjustable according to active feedback of interaction with electromagnetic waves.

5. Barriers
Several barriers related to technological and fabrication aspects have been identified by analysis of the results and expert reviews. In this section, a summary of barriers regarding metamaterials use for applications is given.

As seen on the different graphs presenting the publication related to metamaterials over the last years, it appears that this field is relatively recent and therefore still at the level of basic research. Several scientific and technological challenges still interfere with a possible wide commercial application and usage of these materials. Mainly, losses of intensity due to absorption in the used metals of the metal nanostructures are a critical issue, especially for the use of metamaterials as superlenses. Moreover, fabrication of 2-dimensional and, even more, of 3 dimensional metamaterial nanostructures is very challenging. The vision of creating cloaking devices for making objects invisible will only be accessible when 3D metamaterial nanostructures will be fabricated with high homogeneity and reproducibility as well as very low surface roughness.

Many experts have mentioned that it is necessary that metamaterials enter the market soon to initiate a strong impulse on further development of this material type. For application of chiral metamaterials as e.g. optical rotators and optical isolators, it is often mentioned that size of the devices is an issue. The devices have to be reduced in size for getting commercially applicable. However, the field of metamaterials shows to be promising while some companies such as Rayspan appear on the market and show a rapid level of development.

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6. Trends and future applications

The most significant advances in the use of metamaterials are currently being made in the microwave part of the spectrum, due to the easiness in fabricating the devices based on metamaterials at these wavelengths. This does not mean that devices working at higher frequencies cannot be made, though the feasibility of the designs decreases as the work frequency increases. As previously seen, interest in metamaterials has grown exponentially since the beginning of the 2000s. The potential of these structures in various applications in the information and communication technologies sector is considerable. This is the consequence of the outstanding performance of metamaterials in controlling both the propagating and the evanescent part of the spectrum of the electromagnetic field. Such a salient feature cannot be achieved with standard materials. Microelectronics, wireless comunication systems, avionics, and many more industries may benefit from the following active sub-areas in metamaterials, mainly at GHz frequencies. This section aims to give some of the directions research on metamaterials may follow in the next few years. It will be note that, although not mentioned in this part since it was covered earlier in this report, cloaking as a metamaterial application remains a major centre of interest, if not the main one. This is especially due to the spectacular character that may represent the possibility of hiding objects not only in science-fiction movies but also in a scientific way.

6.1. Waveguide miniaturization

Waveguiding structures are often required in most of the applications of the microwave range (between 0.3 and 300 GHz as a broad definition). Though the established methods and techniques to fabricate such structures are highly-developed, issues regarding cost effective solutions and losses still remain important [1]. Regarding these problems, metamaterials and photonic bandgap (PBG) based waveguides structures have been identified as having a potential impact in sectors like avionics and satellite communications [2,3], where beam-forming and losses in imprinted circuits are challenging. However, PBG waveguides involve large-area designs, an adverse attribute for these kinds of applications, because miniaturization is often a key in the fabrication of more competitive solutions for imprinted circuits and waveguides. New alternatives consisting of metallodielectric [3-5] periodic and even fractal structures have been considered. Moreover, left-handed materials are believed to have the capacity to offer innovative solutions to waveguide problems design in terms of size reduction and cost [6,7].

[1] FP6 Metamorphose NOE project: http://www.metamorphose-eu.org [2] B. Temelkuran, and E. Ozbay, "Experimental demonstration of photonic crystal based waveguides," Appl. Phys. Lett 74 (4), 486 (1999) [3] P. de Maagt, "EBG components and applications at microwave and (sub)millimeter waves," European Microwave Week Workshop EuMC05, Amsterdam, 11-15 Oct 2004.

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[4] P. Haring Bolvar, M. Brucherseifer, J. Gmez Rivas, R. Gonzalo, I. Ederra, A. Reynolds, M. Holker, and P. de Maagt, "Measurement of the dielectric constant and loss tangent of high dielectric constant materials at terahertz frequencies," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 51, 1062 (2003) [5] J. C. Vardaxoglou, A. P. Feresidis and G. Goussetis, "Metallodielectric EBG surfaces: miniaturization, tuneability and antenna applications," Proceedings of the Workshop on Metamaterials for Microwave and Optical Technologies, San Sebastian, Spain, 18-20 July 2005 [6] Y. Horii, C. Caloz, and T. Itoh, "Super-compact multilayered left-handed transmission line and diplexer application," IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 53, 1527 (2005) [7] A. J. Viitanen, and S. A. Tretyakov, "Metawaveguides formed by arrays of small resonant particles over a ground plane," J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 7, S133 (2005)

6.2. Dispersive waveguides

As a consequence of the uncommon characteristics of metamaterials, waveguides and transmission lines made using such materials could have a better performance when controlling dispersive effects than standard waveguides based on right-handed material [1]. Backward lines, subwavelength transmission plasmonic waveguides, and even waveguides on a uniaxial, dispersive metamaterials are subjects of investigation concerning dispersion issues. The most valuable advantaged of such structures is the dispersion control, thus finding a direct application in communication systems [2,3]. Broadband matching can be achieved if a combination of backward and forward lines is properly designed [4]. A straightforward conclusion stems from such a device: no matching networks are required in order to minimize the losses due to reflections in the structure [5].

[1] FP6 Metamorphose NOE project: http://www.metamorphose-eu.org [2] M. Bayindir, B. Temelkuran, E. Ozbay, "Propagation of photons by hopping: A waveguiding mechanism through localized coupled cavities in three-dimensional photonic crystals," Phys Rev. B 61 (18), 11855 (2000) [3] A. K. Iyer and G. Eleftheriades, "Negative-refractive-index transmission line metamaterials and applications," Proceedings of the Workshop on Metamaterials for Microwave and Optical Technologies, San Sebastian, Spain, 18-20 July 2005 [4] A. Lai, C. Caloz, and T. Itoh, "Composite left-/right-handed transmission line metamaterials," IEEE magazine, Sept 2004 [5] S. Zubko, D. Kholodnyak, I. Kolmakova, I. Kolmakov, A. Lapshine, E. Serebryakova, O. Vendrik and I. Vendik, "Broad band microwave phase shifters based on a combination of left and righthanded transmission lines," Proceedings of the Workshop on Metamaterials for Microwave and Optical Technologies, San Sebastian, Spain, 18-20 July 2005

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6.3. Antennas / antenna arrays

As previously discussed in section 3.2, emission and reception performance of antennas have shown to be improving when metamaterials are employed as sub/superstrates of individual antennas and antennas arrays. These observations therefore open the way to an optimization of their most significant merit figures [1]. Higher directivity, smaller cross-talking between each element of the array and reduction of lateral lobes are realized owing to these structures in the microwave and millimetre wave range. Focusing on some multi-antenna arrangements [2], directivity values around 10dB have been reached by means of a metamaterial superstrate. At the same time, the cross-talking between elements of the array can be substancially decreased. Some remarkable applications have their roots on the properties that metamaterials exhibit. A smart design of novel leaky wave antennas can be done throughout their use, making possible the fabrication of full-space scanning antennas [3]. Finally, single excitation of dual-band antennas [4] and small antennas [5,6] are subjects of intense investigation.

[1] FP6 Metamorphose NOE project: http://www.metamorphose-eu.org [2] E. Senz Sainz, "Design of multifrequency anetenna array with the use of left-handed superstrates," Proceedings of the Workshop on Metamaterials for Microwave and Optical Technologies, San Sebastian, Spain, 18-20 July 2005 [3] G. Donzelli, F. Capolino, S. Boscolo, M. Midrio, "Absence of scan blindness in phased arrays with grounded dielectric EBG substrate," Proceedings of the Workshop on Metamaterials for Microwave and Optical Technologies, San Sebastian, Spain, 18-20 July 2005 [4] C. Caloz, and T. Itoh, "Array Factor Approach of Leaky-Wave Antennas and Application to 1-D/2D Composite Right/Left-Handed (CRLH) Structures," IEEE Microw. Wireless Compon. Lett. 14, 274 (2004) [5] C. Caloz, "Novel metamaterial antennas and reflectors," Proceedings of the Workshop on Metamaterials for Microwave and Optical Technologies, San Sebastian, Spain, 18-20 July 2005 [6] R.W. Ziolkowski and A.D. Kipple, "Reciprocity between the effects of resonant scattering and enhanced radiated power by electrically small antennas in the presence of nested metamaterial shells," Phys. Rev. E 72, 036602 (2005)

6.4. High impedance surfaces and artificial magnetic conductors

Different metamaterials working in the gigahertz range, such as high impedance surfaces and artificial magnetic conductors attract much interest for research because of their fast time-to-market implementation [1]. They could serve as a solution to miniaturize and reduce the cost in the information and communication systems sector. In fact, at this stage components based on these structures already exist and are available on the market [2-5]. The main efforts are devoted to substrates, superstrates and absorbers for a heterogeneous set of antennas [6-8].

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[1] P6 Metamorphose NOE project: http://www.metamorphose-eu.org [2] D. Sievenpiper, "High-impedance electromagnetic surfaces with a forbidden frequency band," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. 47, 2059 (1999) [3] J. McVay, N. Engheta, and A. Hoorfar, "High-impedance metamaterial surfaces using Hilbertcurve inclusions," IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Lett. 14, 130 (2004) [4] A. Ourir, A. de Lustrac, and J.-M. Lourtioz, "All-metamaterial based subwavelength cavities for ultrathin directive antennas," Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 084103 (2006) [5] F. Bilotti, M. Manzini, A. Al, and L. Vegni, "Polygonal patch antennas with reactive impedance surfaces," J. Elect. Waves and Applications 20, 169 (2006) [6] A. Al, F. Bilotti, N. Engheta, and L. Vegni, "Design of conformal omnidirectional metamaterial antennas," Proc. 18th Int. Conf. on Applied Electromagnetics and Communications (2005) [7] M.F. Wu, F.Y. Meng, Q. Wu, J. Wu, J.C. Lee, "An approach for small omnidirectional microstrip antennas based on the backward waves of double negative metamaterials," Appl. Phys. A 87, 193 (2007) [8] S.A. Tretyakov, S.I. Maslovski, "Thin absorbing structure for all incidence angles based on the use of a high-impedance surface," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters 38, 175 (2003)

6.5. Tuneable materials

As mentioned above, metamaterials can be considered artificial, periodic structures where basic units inclusions, properly patterned in a substrate, depict different properties than usual materials in regard to the interaction of light with them. Those basic units can be made of materials whose physical properties can be modulated in some way or other [1]. Therefore far more flexible sensors and devices could be fabricated based on the tuneability of the striking properties of the metamaterials. This would be beneficial for low-cost steering antennas, ferrites, composite materials for microwave applications. Generally speaking, imaging systems for healthcare applications, security and environmental control, and terrestrial/space observation are fields of interest. Although these sub-fields of research have obvious connections with small and medium enterprises and the market in general, the extension of the ideas and patents developed within the field will probably take time to enter in the market.

[1] P6 Metamorphose NOE project: http://www.metamorphose-eu.org

6.6. Summary
The overview presented in this patent-section can be completed through the data displayed in Figure 5, where a patent search on Metamaterials from 2004 to 2008 is shown. Most of the patents are devoted to application in the industrial sector of information and communications. However, as it will be seen further on, the metamaterial field of research is also expected to extend towards other sectors in the short run.

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Figure 5 Number of patents on Metamaterials during the period 2004-2008 (source: esp@cenet patents database)

Taking into consideration the information previously presented, the most remarkable features regarding trends and future applications of metamaterials at optical frequencies can be observed. Figure 6 present the future trends in the field of metamaterials at optical frequencies over the next few years.

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Figure 6 Trends in metamaterial research and development at optical frequencies for the next few years (source: Metamorphose FP6 NOE project)

Combining the content of Figure 6 with information presented in this report, it can be said that the overwhelming majority of the applications in the four sectors are developed at frequencies other than the optical part of the spectrum. These applications related to metamaterials structures can be listed depending on their functionality as follows:

1. Collimation: MRI imaging for health applications (Health & Well-being) 2. Superlensing: Imaging, detection and focusing of radiation (Safety & Security, Health & Well-being) 3. 4. Sensing: Biosensor based on metamaterials (Health & Well-being, Safety & Security) Multifunctionnal reconfigurable systems: Frequency selectives surfaces, small antennas, tunable filters, delay lines, integration of MEMs switches, cloaking, wireless

communications.

At optical frequencies the following applications can be identified: nanoantennas, plasmonic nanocircuits, cloaking (ICT, Safety & Security).

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These are the most relevant trends and future applications of metamaterials being investigated. Most of them are devoted to the microwave and millimeter wave regime because of the problems involved in the fabrication of devices at the nanoscale (feasibility and reproducibility). However, there is a clearly growing interest in extending designs and concepts from the microwave regime to the optical one.

7. Information sheets on relevant photonic materials

Based on the results obtained in parts 2, 3 and 4, about 20 to 30 relevant photonic materials will be identified in each category, which have a high potential for future industrial applications. In this part it is crucial to explain the advantages of these photonic materials and why these photonic materials have a high potential for future applications or what is the scientific / technological breakthrough achieved. E.g. it is necessary to explain which property of the material has been improved and also it is important to mention the problems, which are still to be overcome.

For each material identified with a high potential, an information sheet/table has to be filled in (cf. template which is developed by the roadmap experts), with : its relevant properties (optical, electrical, ) which are of interest / have been improved, industrial applications (actual and future), production process, phase of development.

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8. Imprint
This report has the objective to give an overview on the recent scientific research and development undertaken in the field of optical fibres and has not the goal to be exhaustive. This R&D report analysis was compiled within the European project Development of Advanced Technology Roadmaps in Photonics and Industrial Adaptation to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (PhotonicRoadSME). The project is funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programm e (Project Number 224572).

Authors: Dr. Jos-Maria Rico Garca (Optics Department, Universidad Complutense de Madrid) Mr. Mario Gonzlez Montes (Optics Department, Universidad Complutense de Madrid) Dr. Goran Markovic (Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum) Dr. Jonathan Loeffler (Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum)

Contact of project co-ordinator: Dr. Jonathan Loeffler e-mail: loeffler@steinbeis-europa.de Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum Erbprinzenstrae 4-12, 76133 Karlsruhe Germany

The authors are responsible for the content. All rights reserved except those agreed by contract. No part of this publication may be translated or reproduced in any form or bay any means without prior permission of the authors.

Version October 2009

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