Open Access
Compact dual-band terahertz quarter-wave plate metasurface
(IEEE, 2014) Torres Landívar, Víctor; Etayo Salinas, David; Ortuño Molinero, Rubén; Navarro Cía, Miguel; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
A dual-band quarter-wave plate based on a modified extraordinary transmission hole array is numerically analyzed and experimentally demonstrated at terahertz frequencies. To control independently orthogonal polarizations, the original square holes are connected with vertical slits and their lateral straight sides are replaced by meander lines. This smart design enables dual-band operation with unprecedented fractional bandwidths in a compact structure. Considering a flattening deviation lower than 40% of the optimum value, a fractional bandwidth of 53.8% and 3.8% is theoretically obtained (16.8% and 2.9% in the experiment) at 1 and 2.2 THz, respectively. At these two frequencies, the structure is 0.13-λ and 0.29-λ thick, respectively. Given the compactness of the whole structure and the performance obtained, this quarter-wave plate is presented as a competitive device for the terahertz band.
Open Access
ε-near-zero (ENZ) graded index quasi-optical devices: steering and splitting millimeter waves
(IOP Publishing, 2014) Pacheco-Peña, Víctor; Torres Landívar, Víctor; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Navarro Cía, Miguel; Engheta, Nader; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Graded index ε near-zero (GRIN-ENZ) quasi-optical components such as beam steerers and power splitters are designed, simulated and analyzed. The GRIN-ENZ medium is realized using stacked narrow hollow waveguides whose infinite array shows the first transmission peak at 1.0002 THz. Several GRIN-ENZ beam steerers to channel a normal incident plane wave to different output angles (15, 45, 65 and 80 deg) with good impedance matching (low reflection) are analytically and numerically demonstrated using planar structures with a thickness of 5λ0 = 1500 μm along z-axis. Moreover, symmetrical and asymmetrical power splitters are designed with output angles (plus/minus 45 deg) and (-80, +35 deg), respectively.
Open Access
Radiative cooling properties of portlandite and tobermorite: two cementitious minerals of great relevance in concrete science and technology
(American Chemical Society, 2023-06-23) Dolado, Jorge S.; Goracci, Guido; Arrese-Igor, Silvia; Ayuela, Andrés; Torres Betancourt, Angie Tatiana; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Gaitero, Juan J.; Cagnoni, Matteo; Cappelluti, Federica; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
Although concrete and cement-based materials are the most engineered materials employed by mankind, their potential for use in daytime radiative cooling applications has yet to be fully explored. Due to its complex structure, which is composed of multiple phases and textural details, fine-tuning of concrete is impossible without first analyzing its most important ingredients. Here, the radiative cooling properties of Portlandite (Ca(OH)2) and Tobermorite (Ca5Si6O16(OH)2·4H2O) are studied due to their crucial relevance in cement and concrete science and technology. Our findings demonstrate that, in contrast to concrete (which is a strong infrared emitter but a poor sun reflector), both Portlandite and Tobermorite exhibit good radiative cooling capabilities. These results provide solid evidence that, with the correct optimization of composition and porosity, concrete can be transformed into a material suitable for daytime radiative cooling.
Open Access
Negative refraction through an extraordinary transmission left-handed metamaterial slab
(American Physical Society, 2009) Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Navarro Cía, Miguel; Sorolla Ayza, Mario; Campillo, Igor; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this work we present numerical and experimental results of negative refraction through a negative index metamaterial based on miniaturized extraordinary transmission stacked subwavelength hole arrays, also known as stacked fishnet structures, working in the millimeter wave range. Analytical transmittance as a function of frequency and tangential momentum shows the conditions under which negative refraction is expected. Due to the role of the gap-surface-plasmon-polariton-like mode that gives rise to the resonant magnetic response of this structure, strong dispersion with the angle of incidence is expected. Experimental results using a quasioptical bench in the millimeter wave band demonstrate negative refraction and, besides, reasonable agreement with the simulation results is obtained. A discussion based on leaky waves serves to qualitatively explain the main features. The presented results may find application in the design of new lenses and devices both in the microwave, terahertz, and optical ranges.
Open Access
Metageometries for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detection at THz range in food systems
(IEEE, 2021) Jáuregui López, Irati; Insausti Barrenetxea, Kizkitza; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, when present in food systems, have been shown to have a detrimental effect on human health, producing carcinogenic elements. So, the implementation of processes for their detection and identification is of vital importance. Nowadays, there are different methodologies for this purpose, but they consist of expensive and time-consuming processes. Due to their enhanced sensitivity and more accurate detection capability, metageometries operating in the terahertz band arise as a new methodology to identify and detect different chemical or biological substances. In this work, we propose a labyrinth metageometry able to detect different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected in European regulations as the most critical compounds with high experimental sensitivity. Our design is also capable to distinguish between different compounds at the same concentration. This work leads the way to the design of new metastructures able to improve the current detection limits, and thus obtain a new methodology, easier and less time-consuming that the actual methods.
Open Access
On the performance of the zoned fishnet metamaterial lens with positive and negative reference phase
(IEEE, 2016) Pacheco-Peña, Víctor; Minin, Igor V.; Minin, Oleg V.; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica
In this letter, several converging fishnet metalenses are designed using both the zoning and reference phase techniques. They are engineered with a focal length of 1.5λ0 at the design frequency of 55 GHz (λ0 = 5.45 mm) at which the fishnet metamaterial has an effective refractive index of nlens = ∼0.68. Three metalenses are analyzed—with positive, negative, and without reference phase—in order to compare their performance. The focal properties are evaluated both numerically and experimentally, demonstrating a good agreement between them. The best performance is achieved for the zoned metalens with positive reference phase,with an experimental power enhancement at the focal length of 6.2 dB, better axial resolution (0.65λ0 ), and reduced lateral lobes compared to other designs
Open Access
Terahertz carpet cloak based on a ring resonator metasurface
(American Physical Society, 2015) Orazbayev, Bakhtiyar; Mohammadi Estakhri, Nasim; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Alù, Andrea; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this work we present the concept and design of an ultrathin (λ/22) terahertz (THz) unidirectional carpet cloak based on the local phase compensation approach enabled by gradient metasurfaces. A triangular surface bump with center height of 4.1 mm (1.1λ) and tilt angle of 20° is covered with a metasurface composed of an array of suitably designed closed ring resonators with a transverse gradient of surface impedance. The ring resonators provide a wide range of control for the reflection phase with small absorption losses, enabling efficient phase manipulation along the edge of the bump. Our numerical results demonstrate a good performance of the designed cloak in both near field and far field, and the cloaked object mimics a flat ground plane within a broad range of incidence angles, over 35° angular spectrum centered at 45°. The presented cloak design can be applied in radar and antenna systems as a thin, lightweight, and easy to fabricate solution for radio and THz frequencies.
Open Access
Ultra-wideband metamaterial filter based on electroinductive-wave coupling between microstrips
(EMW Publishing, 2009) Navarro Cía, Miguel; Carrasco, José Miguel; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this work, we analyse the frequency response of microstrip lines coupled by complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) etched on the ground plane supporting electroinductive waves (EIWs). The single-particle configurations demonstrate the principle of operation whose bandwidths reach 67% of the central frequency. A double configuration is afterwards investigated as a further improvement of the filtering response, such as the level of the spurious lower frequency band. Finally, an ultimate prototype comprising different CSRRs along the access line, together with the aforementioned EIW-coupling is proposed for filtering undesired higher bands. Experimental results confirm numerical analysis.
Open Access
Multiple absorption regimes in simple lithography-free structures leading to ultrathin slabs
(2024-07-08) Lezaun Capdevila, Carlos; Navajas Hernández, David; Liberal Olleta, Íñigo; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Electromagnetic absorbers serve as fundamental components for a wide range of applications, encompassing energy and heat management, sensing, and communications. In this study, we explore several complex permittivity combinations for lithography-free material-reflector and material-spacer-reflector configurations that lead to perfect absorption peaks across distinct permittivity regimes and varying thicknesses. We provide an extensive analysis of angle and polarization dependencies, specifically using silicon carbide as an illustrative example. Our findings reveal the potential for harnessing different absorption regimes within a single device, thus enabling the realization of multiband absorption capabilities. Furthermore, we demonstrate perfect absorption linked with extreme values of permittivity, and we find the conditions to get perfect absorption in ultrathin slabs. In addition, we carry out an analysis about the response at oblique incidence, and we identify a particular mode in the negative permittivity region and its hybridization with epsilon-near-zero modes at oblique incidence. This investigation serves as a valuable standardization of absorber design, offering insights to develop perfect absorbers for infrared applications such as thermal emission, communications, and sensing.
Open Access
Controlling the direction of propagation of surface plasmons via graded index effective dielectric media
(IEEE, 2019) Pacheco-Peña, Víctor; Beruete Díaz, Miguel; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
In this work, we propose a mechanism to steer and tailor surface plasmon propagation by using graded index concepts. In this approach, a block of dielectric with fixed thickness is placed on top of a semi-infinite metal. The beam steerers are then designed by simply changing the height of the dielectric in the direction perpendicular to the propagation axis. The analytical design is presented and several structures are evaluated with the ability to steer the incoming surface plasmons at any desired output angle.