Tunable Control of Mie Resonances Based on Hybrid VO2 and Dielectric Metamaterial
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S S symmetry Article Tunable Control of Mie Resonances Based on Hybrid VO2 and Dielectric Metamaterial Ju Gao 1, Kuang Zhang 1, Guohui Yang 1 , Sungtek Kahng 2 and Qun Wu 1,* 1 School of Electronic and Communication Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China; [email protected] (J.G.); [email protected] (K.Z.); [email protected] (G.Y.) 2 Department of Information and Telecommunication Engineering, Incheon National University, Songdo-1-dong, Yonsu-gu, Incheon 210211, Korea; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-451-8641-3502 Received: 3 September 2018; Accepted: 17 September 2018; Published: 20 September 2018 Abstract: In this paper, a tunable dielectric metamaterial absorber with temperature-based vanadium dioxide (VO2) is proposed. In contrast to previous studies, both the metal phase of VO2 and the semiconductor phase are applied to manipulate the Mie resonant modes in the dielectric cubes. By embedding VO2 in the main resonant structure, the control over Mie resonant modes in dielectric metamaterials is realized. Each resonant mode is analyzed through field distribution and explains why the phase switch of VO2 could affect the absorbance spectrum. This use of tunable materials could create another new methodology for the manipulation of the Mie resonance-based dielectric cubes and make them closer in essence to isotropic metamaterials. Keywords: vanadium dioxide; dielectric metamaterial; absorber; Mie resonance 1. Introduction The study of electromagnetic waves began in the late 1800s. Over the course of a century’s research, the primary goal modern electromagnetic wave research has been to achieve full control of it, including amplitude control, phase control, and wave impendence control [1–5]. Dielectric composites have been proposed for many applications, and exhibit excellent absorption properties, while the electric resonant mode and magnetic resonant mode overlap with each other [6–11]. Some papers have also proposed tunable metamaterial and metasurface absorbers based on graphene [12–15] or strontium titanate [16,17] to realize tunable absorption or anomalous refraction. Frequency-stable and continuously tunable performance could be achieved by varying the voltage or temperature. Vanadium dioxide (VO2) has drawn a great deal of interest for its semiconductor-to-metal ◦ transition and low transition temperature (68 C) [18–20]. Another characteristic that makes VO2 a promising tunable material is that the switching time is very fast when changing from a semiconductor property to a metal property. The study of VO2 is mainly focused on two areas: the first design idea is changing the electrical length by exploiting the ultra-large change of the refractive index in VO2 between the semiconductor and the metallic states [21–23], and the second design idea is changing the transverse electric and transverse magnetic pass with different phases [24,25]. However, these two ideas are still far from achieving full control over the electromagnetic wave. In this paper, a tunable dielectric metamaterial absorber with vanadium dioxide is proposed. Unlike previous papers, which only take advantage of the metal properties of VO2 and change the electrical length of the structure, this paper makes use of both material properties to control the absorption. The basic absorber is a cross-shaped high permittivity ceramic, and VO2 is placed first in the center and then on the edge of this absorber to achieve the tunability of the absorption. The resulting Symmetry 2018, 10, 423; doi:10.3390/sym10100423 www.mdpi.com/journal/symmetry Symmetry 2018, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 11 Symmetry 2018, 10, 423 2 of 12 in the center and then on the edge of this absorber to achieve the tunability of the absorption. The resulting composite material functions as a sub-wavelength metamaterial with the tunable operatingcomposite material material phase functions permitting as a sub-wavelength the realization metamaterialof an absorber. with the tunable operating material phase permitting the realization of an absorber. 2. Modeling and Design Principle 2. Modeling and Design Principle This study starts with the cross-shaped dielectric metamaterial absorption. For metamaterial or This study starts with the cross-shaped dielectric metamaterial absorption. For metamaterial or metasurface absorbers, one of the most important conditions is the exploitation of epsilon-near-zero metasurface absorbers, one of the most important conditions is the exploitation of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials [26]. A cross-shaped absorber was developed from the cube absorber [27]. By (ENZ) materials [26]. A cross-shaped absorber was developed from the cube absorber [27]. By adding adding other components into the unit cell, ENZ materials can be obtained by the Mie resonances other components into the unit cell, ENZ materials can be obtained by the Mie resonances inside the inside the cross-shaped structure. cross-shaped structure. First, this study starts with the Mie resonance inside the dielectric cube. The incident wave First, this study starts with the Mie resonance inside the dielectric cube. The incident wave excites different Mie resonant modes at different frequencies. As there are different application excites different Mie resonant modes at different frequencies. As there are different application requirements, full control over the resonant modes is needed. Learning from the broadband requirements, full control over the resonant modes is needed. Learning from the broadband antenna antenna or left-handed metamaterial design, adding some other structures into the unit cell could or left-handed metamaterial design, adding some other structures into the unit cell could manipulate manipulate the resonant modes by tuning the nearby resonances together. Based on previous the resonant modes by tuning the nearby resonances together. Based on previous experience with experience with absorbers, the cross-shaped dielectric absorber could have three absorbance peaks absorbers, the cross-shaped dielectric absorber could have three absorbance peaks corresponding corresponding to three resonant frequencies and resonant modes. At each resonant frequency, the to three resonant frequencies and resonant modes. At each resonant frequency, the incident energy incident energy is trapped in the center of the shape and both dielectric arms, on the basis of the is trapped in the center of the shape and both dielectric arms, on the basis of the electric wave. electric wave. This multi-mode resonance structure has great advantages in wave control, and also makesThis multi-mode it easier to resonance accomplish structure different has greatelectrom advantagesagnetic ingoals. wave Compared control, and to also the makes similar it easiershapes to [28,29],accomplish the differentcross-shaped electromagnetic absorber can goals. also Compared be regarded to the similaras a complementary shapes [28,29], thedielectric cross-shaped cube absorber.absorber canBased also on be regardedthe equivalent as a complementary circuit theory dielectric, the cross-shaped cube absorber. structure Based is on smaller the equivalent while keepingcircuit theory, the same the cross-shapedresonant performance. structure is Addition smaller whileally, the keeping unit thecell sameis composed resonant performance.of dielectric ceramics,Additionally, which the means unit cell low is ohmic composed loss ofand dielectric a greater ceramics, suitability which for meanshigh-temperature low ohmic and loss andhigh- a powergreater conditions. suitability forConsidering high-temperature that temperature and high-power is one of conditions. the most Consideringimportant parameters that temperature in this study,is one ofit theis necessary most important to keep parameters the host unit in this ce study,ll shape it isand necessary constitutive to keep parameters the host unit stable cell while shape tuningand constitutive the temperature. parameters Therefore, stable while the cross tuning shape the temperature. is the best candidate Therefore, for the the cross study shape of isa thehybrid best candidate for the study of a hybrid VO2 and dielectric metamaterial absorber. VO2 and dielectric metamaterial absorber. ByBy replacing thethe ceramic ceramic into into the the vanadium vanadium dioxide dioxide at the at energy-concentrated the energy-concentrated positions, positions, a tunable a absorber is achieved with a different material phase of vanadium dioxide. The VO2-dielectric absorber tunable absorber is achieved with a different material phase of vanadium dioxide. The VO2- dielectricunit cell isabsorber shown inunit Figure cell 1is. shown in Figure 1. FigureFigure 1. 1. SchematicSchematic of of absorber absorber unit unit cell. cell. 2.1.2.1. Center Center Case Case InIn the the cross-shaped dielectricdielectric metamaterialmetamaterial absorber,absorber, one one of of the the resonant resonant modes modes concentrates concentrates on onthe the incident incident energy energy around around the centerthe center of the of cross the shape.cross shape. Consequently, Consequently, in the firstin the case, first the case, effect the of effectthe material of the phasematerial on phase absorption on absorption is discussed is bydiscussed replacing by the replacing center material the center with material VO2. The with material VO2. Theproperties material used properties in this paper used are in basedthis paper on the are results based published on the results before published [7]. In