On the electromagnetic modelling of left-handed metamaterials

The electromagnetic modelling of discrete left-handed microwave metamaterials is discussed. A continuous-medium approach is proposed for the analysis of a wide class of left-handed and negative permeability media made by placing metallic inclusions in a host dielectric medium. This includes all artificial media made by the superposition of an artificial plasma and a negative magnetic permeability medium made of split ring resonators. The proposed model allows for the consideration of both edge- and broadside-coupled split rings resonators. It also allows for the use of wires and/or metallic plates in the plasma simulation. Other related physical effects that can appear in these artificial media, such as bianisotropy, are also taken into account. The numerical computations provided by the model are compared with full-wave numerical simulations and experimental results, showing a good agreement. The advantages and disadvantages of the different left-handed metamaterial designs considered along the text are also discussed.