Frequency selective microwave devices using narrowband metal materials

Abstract

A microwave device operating at a selected frequency band or group of selected frequency bands of interest includes a resonant bulk material having one or more conductivity bandwidths corresponding to the selected frequency band or group of selected frequency bands of interest. The resonant bulk material exhibits conductive properties at a frequency or frequencies within the one or more conductivity bandwidths and non-conductive properties at all other frequencies, and includes a narrowband metal material having a Lorentz resonance frequency or frequencies within the selected frequency band or group of selected frequency bands of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the resonant bulk material includes lossy material particles arranged for absorbing radiation at the frequency or frequencies within the one or more conductivity bandwidths; and a resonant coating of the narrowband metal material coating around the lossy material particles, the coating having a Lorentz resonance frequency or frequencies within the selected frequency band or group of selected frequency bands of interest. Alternatively, the resonant bulk material can be used to construct wave guiding or wave scattering devices. The resonant bulk material is especially advantageous for use in a variety of highly transmissive and highly conductive microwave devices including but not limited to antennas, frequency converters and extremely narrowband filters/couplers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.