Ultrathin microwave absorber based on metamaterial

We suggest that ultrathin broadband metamaterial is a perfect absorber in the microwave regime by utilizing the properties of a resistive sheet and metamaterial. Meta-atoms are composed of four-leaf clover-shape metallic patterns and a metal plane separated by three intermediate resistive sheet layers between four dielectric layers. We interpret the absorption mechanism of the broadband by using the distribution of surface currents at specific frequencies. The simulated absorption was over 99% in 1.8-4.2 GHz. The corresponding experimental absorption was also over 99% in 2.62-4.2 GHz; however, the absorption was slightly lower than 99% in 1.8-2.62 GHz because of the sheet resistance and the changed values for the dielectric constant. Furthermore, it is independent of incident angle. The results of this research indicate the possibility of applications, due to the suppression of noxious exposure, in cell phones, computers and microwave equipments.This work was supported by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) R&D program of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP)/Institute for Information and Communications Technology Promotion (IITP), Korea (13-911-01-101)