We report the results of a study to model the behavior of nonlinear metamaterials in the microwave frequency range composed of arrays of split-ring resonators combined with nonlinear circuit elements. The overall model consists of an array of coupled damped oscillators whose inter-element coupling is a function of signal amplitude, similar to that which exists in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam system. [8] We note the potential occurrence of classical nonlinear effects including parametric coupling, FPU recurrence and chaos. These effects lead to nonlinear waves on the array which are a type of soliton particular to the form of nonlinearity that has been incorporated. We have studied, in particular, the nonlinear effects that arise from tunnel diodes embedded in the resonant circuits. We carry out simulations of the resulting circuit frequency response.

Date Published: 9 September 2011
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 8093, Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications IV, 809327 (9 September 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.893841

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8093:
Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications IV
Allan D. Boardman; Nader Engheta; Mikhail A. Noginov; Nikolay I. Zheludev, Editor(s)