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EDITOR'S NOTE
This is the concluding article of the three part series exploring the theory and applications of Möbius metamaterials. The previous articles appeared in Microwave Journal's May and June 2016 issues.
The MMS (Metamaterial Möbius Strip) is an artificial composite structure with a negative index of refraction (n=-Jep; e < 0, p < 0), where n is the refractive index, e is the electrical permittivity and p is the magnetic permeability of the medium. It has emerged as a cutting edge of science relating physics, chemistry, biology, material science, optics, acoustics and electronics. For most naturally existing materials, p is close to 1; hence, magnetic susceptibility of natural materials is small as compared to the electric/dielectric susceptibility. This phenomenon limits the interaction of atoms to the electric component of the electromagnetic (EM) wave, leaving the magnetic component mostly unexploited. Magnetism is primarily weak at optical frequencies as well, because the relaxation times of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic processes are considerably longer than an optical period, electron movement in atoms is the only mechanism for creating the magnetic response. This is why the magnetic field component is usually not involved in light-matter interactions. The reason for weak magnetism is mainly due to limitations of the material properties imposed by chemical composition and constituent components (atoms and molecules). On the contrary, MMS resonant nanostructures, in principle, can exhibit a broad range of magnetic permeability values.1-75 A number of stimulating phenomena and applications associated with MMS structures are discussed in part 1 (MWJ May 2016) and part 2 (MWJ June 2016) of this series. This issue addresses the prospects, challenges and future directions of MMS inspired components for various applications including the Gravitational Casimir Effect.
Recent research in the field of metamaterials69-75 has not only established interesting physical phenomena but also lead to opportunities for utilizing negative index components and devices for next generation energy-efficient electronic circuits and systems. Figure 1 compares the properties of natural and artificially engineered composite materials.1 Unlike conventional materials that interact with EM waves based on their chemical compositions, the properties of metamaterials are derived from their topologies and geometric structures.
The typical metamaterial consists of periodically or arbitrarily disseminated structured cells with dimensions and spaeings much...