Coding metamaterials, digital metamaterials and programmable metamaterials

Metamaterials are artificial structures that are usually described by effective medium parameters on the macroscopic scale, and these metamaterials are referred to as ‘analog metamaterials’. Here, we propose ‘digital metamaterials’ through two steps. First, we present ‘coding metamaterials’ that are composed of only two types of unit cells, with 0 and π phase responses, which we name ‘0’ and ‘1’ elements, respectively. By coding ‘0’ and ‘1’ elements with controlled sequences (i.e., 1-bit coding), we can manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves and realize different functionalities. The concept of coding metamaterials can be extended from 1-bit coding to 2-bit coding or higher. In 2-bit coding, four types of unit…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 2011AA010202, 61138001, 2012AA030402, 60990320, 111-2-05
• UO
  University of Pennsylvania
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 60990320, 2011AA010202, 60990324, 2012AA030402, 111-2-05, 61138001
• HE
  Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project

  Awards: 60990320, 111-2, 2011AA010202, 2012AA030402, 61138001, 60990324, 111-2-05