Engineering Metamaterials

Título del proyecto: Engineering Metamaterials
Entidad financiadora: Programa CONSOLIDER-Ingenio 2010
Ref. CSD2008-00066
Entidades participantes: Grupo de Dispositivos Fotónicos (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia), Grupo de Milimétricas y Antenas (Universidad Pública de Navarra), Grupo de Ingeniería de Microondas y Milimétricas (Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona), Grupo de Microondas (Universidad de Sevilla), Grupo de Fotónica de Plasmones Superficiales (CSIC-Madrid), Grupo de Fenómenos Ondulatorios (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia), Grupo de Ingeniería de Comunicaciones (Universidad de Málaga), Grupo de Ingeniería Óptica (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)
Duración: 15/12/2008 – 15/12/2013
Investigador responsable: Dr. Javier Martí Sendra (Coordinador)
Número de investigadores participantes: 16 (Subproyectos Universidad Politécnica de Valencia)

Abstract: Metamaterials are artificial structures whose electromagnetic properties can be designed and controlled to achieve extraordinary phenomena, not observed in natural environments. This research field covers several hot topics of extreme importance (left-handed, negative refraction, extraordinary optical transmission, invisibility, super-resolution, etc.), with a very active and relevant community in Spain. A fundamental feature of all these issues is scalability: metamaterials are periodic so the frequencies at which show interesting features cover from microwave to optical frequencies. The same concepts are applicable even to sound waves. Additionally, other fields such as surface plasma or nano-optical antennas are closely related to metamaterials, as they rely on the interaction of waves with structured metals. The main objective of this project is to bring together high level scientific knowledge and the extraordinary technological capabilities and technology transfer of the different members of the project, in order to strengthen and consolidate a Spanish consortium at the highest level in the field of metamaterials, by executing a program of competitive activities, specifically designed to address scientific and technological challenges with effect beyond the state of the art. The project addresses from basic research to the development of technological applications with real transfer to industry. Due to the scalability of metamaterials, the Consortium will extend its research/application domain to the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from RF / microwave to optical frequencies, including also the acoustic domain. In this project, the Microwave Applications Group collaborates with the Autonomous University of Barcelona in the development of synthesis and design optimized algorithms of new microwave passive components based on metamaterials.