Proceeding of the 2019 6th International Conference on Space Science and Communication (IconSpace), 28-30 July 2019, Johor

Bahru, Malaysia

A New Split Pitch Square Shape Metamaterial

Absorber for X band Application
Ahasanul Hoque1, Mohammad Tariqul Islam2, Rezaul Azim3, Mandeep Jit Singh4, Kamarulzaman Mat5, Mengu Cho6
1,2,4,5Centre
of Advanced Electronic and Communication Engineering (PAKET), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Bangi, Malaysia
3Department of Physics, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
6Department of Applied Science for Integrated System Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Tobata, Japan
1p94155@siswa.ukm.edu.my, 2tariqul@ukm.edu.my, 3rezaulazim@cu.ac.bd
4mandeep@ukm.edu.my, 5kamarulzaman@ukm.edu.my, 6cho@ele.kyutech.ac.j

Abstract— Metamaterial electromagnetic wave absorbers
may provide perfect absorption over a signi¿cant range of
electromagnetic spectrum. Microwave absorber for X-band
application mostly unable to maintain high bandwidth with good
absorption and require RF shielding in few applications. In this
paper, design, simulation and measurements of a X band (8–12
GHz) metamaterial broadband absorber presented. The
proposed absorber developed by following transmission line
principle making pitch on each square arm with the split in edge
and middle of the structure. The Square arm will steer
electromagnetic (EM) resonance to acquire significant absorption
(~90%) and Double-Negative (DNG) metamaterial property to
ensure perfect shielding for microwave signals. Proposed
metamaterial absorber with DNG characteristics has potential
application sector like microwave shielding, satellite remote
sensing, dielectric property measurement of material etc.
Keywords-Metamaterial; remote sensing; polarization;
Absorber; satellite
I. INTRODUCTION
Metamaterial (MM) are periodically arranged new type of
composites that exhibit exceptional electromagnetic properties
not readily observed in nature. One of the features discovered
in recent years is performing perfect absorption against the
incident electromagnetic wave. Due to their simple design,
easy fabrication process, perfect and broadband absorption
features as well as tunable and controllable absorption
characteristics, metamaterial absorbers can be used in stealth
technology toward remote sensing applications over a
signi¿cant range of electromagnetic spectrum from microwave
to optics. Though first MM absorber was introduced by landy
[1] was a pioneer for showing such application but different
researcher now came out with numerous designs and
applications.
One of the prominent applications of MM absorber is RF
shielding or Stealth technology which is a valuable research
area for electronic warfare provides passive counter-
measurement. It is a combination of technologies to reduce the
distances at which a target can be detected. Stealth applications
particularly deal with radar cross section reduction (RCS). RCS
of relevant targets can be de¿ned as the visibility in radar or the
amount of reÀected radar signal [2]. In recent years, number of
research article published regarding metamaterial absorber
specially C, X, Ku bands. Like singh and viranjay [3] proposed
a decagon shape absorber having triple absorption peak at X
band. Also, they have claimed the structure is frequency
selective surface. Metamaterial based researchers in [4-9] also
demonstrate similar type approach for C and X band
application taking consideration of polarization independency,
basic metamaterial property extraction, maximum absorption
achievement.
The objective of this paper is to introduce a new
metamaterial with strong potential of EM absorption using
perfect DNG property to ensure propagated wave trapping.
Simultaneously, the proposed absorber has wide bandwidth in
specified band for RF shielding purpose.
II. METAMATERIAL ABSORBER DESIGN AND
METHODOLOGY
The split pitch square (SPS) shape unit cell absorber
structure developed on FR-4 substrate material shown in Fig. 1.
FR-4 is a NEMA grade designation for glass-reinforced epoxy
laminate material composed of women fiberglass cloth with an
epoxy resin binder that is flame resistant. This substrate has
thermal conductivity 0.81 W/(m-k), dielectric constant (İr) is
4.6 at 8GHz. Absorber basically have three different layers; the
ground plane of the absorber comprises metal which gives zero
transmission of incident wave during propagation. However, in
this design a finite-integration technique (FIT) based
simulation method in commercially available Computer
Simulation Technology (CST) 2017 microwave studio
software was used for structural analysis of the absorber. But
before we go through the design, a short description on
following such design. As a matter of fact, electromagnetic
signal become trapped while forming a perfect resonance
circuit using microstrip patch. In order to do that, a
transmission line model of Fig. 1 first analyzed whether we
have a resonance on targeted band or not. Also, Q-factor and
resonance frequency have significant characteristics as they
formed with lumped transmission line components. Hence,
lumped elements presents in [10] we ended up on such design
which geometrical legends are available in table-1. Upper and
ground metallic layer have 0.035mm thickness copper. After
such design criteria, MM absorber specifically calculated on
principle mentioned in [11]. Nevertheless, impedance and
admittance parameter have been taken into consider in order to
get proper simulation result to obtain key metamaterial
property in terms of permittivity (İ), permeability (μ),
refractive index (Ș) etc.

978-1-5386-8394-1/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE 85

Authorized licensed use limited to: Auckland University of Technology. Downloaded on June 03,2020 at 09:38:25 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 Fig. 1 SPS shape metamaterial absorber unit cell with
fabricated prototype (inset)
(b)
Fig. 2 Percentage of Absorption with split gap change.
TABLE I. DIMENSION OF SPS CELL

A. E-field, H-field and Surface current characteristics

Parameter

Electric field and magnetic field distribution are the most

W1
L1

P1

P2

P3

P4

g1

g2

common and reasonable point of discussion because at

resonance point found substantial changes compare to other
frequency. Fig. 3 shows E-field and H-field response on 8.564
GHz where it is clearly represents that, electric and magnetic
Size (mm)

field have propagation along Z-direction but due to patch

1.578
7.60

2.85

4.00

1.00

0.5

0.3
10

10

structure a pattern is being following there. In Fig. 3(a), almost

the edge of SPS and internal resonator have field amount
approximately -19.1 dB to -38.2 dB changes which means
III. RESUTL & DISCUSSION BASED ON SIMULATION AND during propagation dielectric property through the unit cell
MEASURED DATA
having strong dipole moment. Hence, İ, μ and Ș have direct
impact according to ‘Helmholtz equation’ and follow the
We all are concern that, electromagnetic signal propagation homogeneous differential equation [11]
follows famous Maxwell’s wave propagation equations. To get
a crystal-clear concept on why proposed design acts on certain ª d2 2º
band with significant absorption rating, E-field and H-field « dz 2 − γ » Exm ( z ) = 0 (1)
characteristics at resonance frequency 8.564 GHz with current ¬ ¼
distribution explained consecutively. Fig. 2 (a, b) depicts the
absorption amount pictorially in simulation environment where where, Ȗ is the propagation constant.
we have above 80% absorption from 8.35 GHz-8.64 GHz
despite of changing split gap. Though two consecutive
resonance point is observed at 9.53 GHz and 11.06 GHz but
unfortunately don’t bring good absorption.

X
Z

(a)
(a)

86

Authorized licensed use limited to: Auckland University of Technology. Downloaded on June 03,2020 at 09:38:25 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 Y Y

Z X X
Z

(b) Fig.4 Surface current distribution of SPS cell

Fig. 3 (a) E-field distribution (b) H-field distribution at resonance
frequency 8.564 GHz. B. Effect on dielctric properties and polarization
Similar theory applies for magnetic field (Fig. 3(b)) but there As we have identified that, there is a potentiality of EM
is an interesting difference is, effect of patch edges and inner absorber of SPS unit let’s observe the dielectric property and
resonator won’t get effected in same way. Because, during polarization effect on propose cell. As in Fig. 5(a), real part of
magnetic field propagation as we have applied the field along both transmission and reflection co-efficient forms a balance
Y-direction that time E-field orthogonally correlate at each matrix so that at resonance (8.564 GHz) point S-parameter is
instant with inverse relationship of refractive index. That’s having good VSWR (Fig. 5(b)).
why, we get different resonance impact on magnetic field as
well as maximum absorption.
Another important characteristic of the unit cell is surface
current where cell structure, patch, thickness of substrate etc.
all are concerned. Because, during propagation EM signal may
face good conduction current density but as the frequency
increase conductivity hampers due to skin effect of dielectric
material. So, Fig. 4 shows the horizontal patches have
maximum surface current. Though similar thickness copper
patch forms the whole structure but during propagation
specifically at quarter wavelength position EM wave get the
maximum attenuation. Hence, penetration depth become
minimum as both have inverse relationship and surface current
become maximum.

(a)

87

Authorized licensed use limited to: Auckland University of Technology. Downloaded on June 03,2020 at 09:38:25 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 (b)
(b)
Fig. 6 (a) Permittivity and (b) permeability at resonance frequency
Fig. 5 (a) Reflection and Transmission characteristics (S-parameters)
(b) VSWR of Proposed unit cell
TABLE II. DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF SPS UNIT CELL
On the other hand, permittivity (İ) and permeability (μ) in
simulation environment (Fig. 6) presents clear negative value Resonance Dielectric Properties
which proves the left-handed metamaterial property is evident. Frequency Refractive
(GHz) Permittivity(İ) Permeability (μ)
index(Ș)
Herein, Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NRW) method used to extract İ
and μ value from S-parameters [11]. As mentioned in earlier 8.564 -2.486 -3.004 -3.402
section that, İ and μ effected by propagation constant according
to ‘Helmholtz equation’ and Table II presents the exact value at
resonance. Herein, in Fig. 7 presents, proposed DNG SPS cell
simulated in different electric field polarization effect. For
remote sensing application the EM wave may have to travel a
long distance. So, different dielectric medium can incur TE or
TM polarization of the signal. In that case, absorber must be
insensitive whether incoming signal is linearly or circularly
polarized or not. Simulated results show that, proposed
metamaterial absorber polarization angle change from ij=0° to
315° and the absorption amount remain same.

(a)

Fig. 7 Polarization insensitiveness of SPS unit cell

C. Experimental measurement & transmission

Fabricated metamaterial absorber with DNG characteristics
for X band application has been verified using standard
laboratory experiments. Scattering parameter (Transmission
and Reflection) measurement setup with finished prototype
shown in Fig. 8(a), where absorber placed between two wave

88

Authorized licensed use limited to: Auckland University of Technology. Downloaded on June 03,2020 at 09:38:25 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
guide port and connected to Vector Network Analyzer (VNA)
simultaneously. Agilent N5227A VNA used for data extraction
(a)
IV. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, introduced a DNG metamaterial absorber
with significant absorption for X-band frequency and potential
application for remote sensing. This SPS unit cell absorber
shows strong double-negative metamaterial property and very
insensitive to polarization effect. Though for remote sensing
application potentiality purpose need further analysis with this
unit cell but apparently simulation and measured result shows
this absorber is prospective for satellite remote sensing
applications, RF shielding etc.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors sincerely thank to Centre of Advanced
Electronic and Communication Engineering (PAKET) for their
support with providing research facility. Also, the work is
supported by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) research
grant GUP-2016-051 and FRGS/1/2017/TK04/UKM/02/3.

REFERENCES
[1] N. I. Landy, S. Sajuyigbe, J. J. Mock, D. R. Smith,
and W. J. Padilla, "Perfect metamaterial absorber,"
Physical review letters, vol. 100, no. 20, p. 207402,
2008.
[2] E. Knott, J. Shaeffer, and M. Tuley, "Radar Cross
Section 2nd edn (Boston, MA: Artech House)," 1993.
(b) [3] D. Singh and V. M. Srivastava, "Triple band regular
Fig. 8 (a) Experimental setup for proposed SPS shaped DNG decagon shaped metamaterial absorber for X-band
metamaterial absorber (b) Simulated vs. measured S21-parameter applications," in Computer Communication and
of proposed SPS unit cell and Fig. 8(b) depicts simulated and Informatics (ICCCI), 2017 International Conference
measured Transmission (S21) coefficient real value over X- on, , pp. 1-4, 2017.
band. Compare to Fig. 5 simulation output, three resonance [4] Y. Xu, B. Zhang, J. Duan, and Y. Tian, "Design of
point still exist in specified band but there is a deviation of Broadband Metamaterial Absorber for C Band and X
simulated and measured frequency value. For example, in Band," in 2018 IEEE International Conference on
simulation first resonance frequency show up is approximately Computer and Communication Engineering
8.69 GHz whereas in measured one is 9.9 GHz. In Table III, all Technology (CCET), pp. 159-163, 2018.
resonance frequency of simulated and measured value [5] S. Sureshkumar, P. R. Anand, A. Prajapati, and K. S.
regarding S11 and S21 is listed for convenience. During Sankaran, "Negative Index Metamaterial Based Dual-
prototype measurement, the feeding from waveguide port was Band Microwave Absorber," in 2018 International
bit tilting in both ends. Moreover, feeding entrance was slightly Conference on Communication and Signal
bigger than unit cell size which forced to place adhesive Processing (ICCSP), pp. 0897-0900, 2018.
synthetic material to hold the prototype while measurement [6] T. Alam, F. Ashraf, M. J. M. Islam, and O. T. Letters,
procedure continued. Hence, a lower dielectric constant "Flexible paper substrate based wide band NRI
material may deviate the copper dielectric property which
metamaterial for Xϋband application," vol. 60, no.
could be a possible reason of shifting. However, approximately
1-12% shifting observed on each resonance point by comparing 5, pp. 1309-1312, 2018.
simulated and measured results. [7] F. Ashraf et al., "Mathematical characterization of
coupled Pi-shaped DNG metamaterial structure," in
2017 International Conference on Electrical,
TABLE III. SIMULATED AND MEASURED RESONANCE FREQUENCY
Computer and Communication Engineering (ECCE),
Resonance Reflection (S11) Transmission (S21) pp. 794-797, 2017.
Frequency [8] M. Hossain, M. Faruque, S. Islam, M. J. M. Islam,
(GHz) f1 f2 f3 f1 f2 f3
and O. T. Letters, "Subwavelength operating
Simulated 8.69 9.56 11.08 8.67 9.56 11.07 metamaterial for multiband applications," vol. 58, no.
12, pp. 3004-3008, 2016.
Measured 9.9 10.25 11.23 9.42 10.1 11.12 [9] S. S. Islam, M. R. I. Faruque, M. T. J. S. Islam, and
E. o. C. Materials, "Design and absorption analysis of
a new multiband split-S-shaped metamaterial," vol.
24, no. 1, pp. 139-148, 2017.

89

Authorized licensed use limited to: Auckland University of Technology. Downloaded on June 03,2020 at 09:38:25 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
[10] I. J. Bahl, Lumped elements for RF and microwave Independent Quasi-TEM Metamaterial Absorber for
circuits. Artech house, 2003. X and Ku Band Sensing Applications," Sensors, vol.
[11] A. Hoque, M. Tariqul Islam, A. Almutairi, T. Alam, 18, no. 12, p. 4209, 2018.
M. Jit Singh, and N. Amin, "A Polarization

90

Authorized licensed use limited to: Auckland University of Technology. Downloaded on June 03,2020 at 09:38:25 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.