Microwave Devices Based on Composite Right/Left-Handed (CRLH)

Transmission Line Metamaterials

Tatsuo Itoh

University of California, Los Angeles
Department of Electrical Engineering
63-129 ENGR IV, 405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095-1594
Email: itoh@ee.ucla.edu

Metamaterials are artificial or man-made structures that have properties not found in naturally existing materials.   The most unusual metamaterials are the Left-Handed ones, also called Double Negative or Negative Refractive Index materials, which are characterized by simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability.  Many interesting EM propagation phenomena result from the negativeness of the constitutive parameters. For instance, the phase and the group velocities are anti-parallel in a Left-Handed substance.  Fundamental theoretical research as well as research on possible revolutionary applications for microwave and RF circuits is underway at various organizations.  Although the technology is still in its infancy, novel practical developments have already been proposed.  The talk will contain a brief historical account, fundamental concepts, adaptation to microwave environment and several passive components with unique features.