Metamaterials-based Routing Devices for Space Applications

We report on the experimental characterization of wedge-shaped metamaterials aimed at operating as angle selective devices for routing applications in X and Ku bands. The metamaterials are made of interconnected omega-type arrays which exhibit negative-zero-positive index from 8 to 16 GHz. Such a relatively broad band, obtained with intrinsically resonant motifs, can be explained by the cross-linking of omega arrays. Under this condition, we show that the metamaterial can be described by series capacitances and shunt inductances in a manner similar to composite transmission lines for which a balance mode was already demonstrated. The transmission of prism-like devices were frequency assessed experimentally by angle resolved vectorial network analysis and show the possibility to switch from the negative refraction mode to the right-handed one. The results are confirmed by finite element full wave electromagnetic simulations.