Theoretical analysis of wide-angle metamaterial absorbers based on equivalent medium theory

Abstract

In the past decade, most of researchers have been devoted to broadening the bandwidth of absorber. There are few researches on how to achieve wide-angle absorbing materials by detailed theoretical analysis and design guidance. It is still difficult to design wide-angle absorbers. In this paper, based on the equivalent medium theory, the reflectivity of the metamaterial absorber with a single-layered medium backed with metal reflector is analyzed in detail. Starting from the basic electromagnetic theory, the reflection coefficient of the absorber under transverse electric(TE) plane wave and transverse magnetic (TM) plan wave irradiation are derived. And the equivalent electromagnetic parameters of realizing the wide-angle absorbing effect are analyzed, which provide a theoretical basis for designing the wide-angle metamaterial absorber. The theoretical analysis results show that the equivalent electromagnetic parameters required for the medium to achieve low-profile and wide-angle absorbing effect are mainly related to the equivalent permeability and have little relationship with the equivalent permittivity. Moreover, the equivalent electromagnetic parameter value for achieving ultra-wide-angle absorber under TE wave and that under TM wave irradiation are different from each other. In other words, the anisotropic metamaterial with appropriate equivalent permeability has the potential to be used to design the ultra-wide-angle absorbers which are not sensitive to TE waves nor TM waves. In addition, in order to find the theoretically achievable widest absorbing angle value under TE wave and TM wave irradiation, the reflection coefficients at all angles must be less than or equal to –10 dB to obtain the relationship among the equivalent electromagnetic parameters, thickness and angle. The results show that the theoretically achievable widest absorbing angle value is 86.56° under TE wave and TM wave irradiation. The designer can choose the corresponding thickness and permeability from the data obtained from the analysis according to the design requirements. The narrow-band absorbers have limited applications. Therefore, in this paper we also theoretically analyze the values of the equivalent electromagnetic parameters for ahcieving wide-band and wide-angle absorbing materials, and make theoretical verification. The results show that the wide-band and wide-angle absorber can be achieved theoretically, while the equivalent electromagnetic parameters of the medium vary with frequency as some special curves indicate. Although this method is based on the equivalent medium theory and has no direct relationship with the actual structure, it does provide theoretical guidance for designing the wide-angle absorbers.