Electrodynarnic modeling of metamaterials with negative refractive index

The physics of electromagnetic wave propagation in metamaterials with negative refractive index has been studied extensively in recent years, but realistic and computationally efficient numerical models for such media are now just beginning to e merge. Such models must capture the characteristic dispersive behavior of the constitutive parameters of metamaterials and be fast and accurate enough to enable computer-aided design and virtual testing of realistic components containing such materials. This paper presents numerical models based on reactively loaded periodic networks that support backward waves and thus represent artificial media with negative refractive index. They are implemented as two- and three-dimensional transmission line matrix (TLM) networks. When embedded in a time domain electromagnetic field simulator, these models provide a versatile CAD tool and computational test bed for media with negative refractive index. Simulation results validate these TLM models and demonstrate their capabilities and potential.