Microwave gain medium with negative refractive index

摘要

The present invention features a microwave gain medium having a negative refractive index, which overcompensates for loss exhibited in conventional passive metamaterials. The design consists of sub-wavelength building blocks with embedded microwave tunnel diodes exhibiting a negative refractive index and a stable net gain. The negative resistance may also be used for dispersion compensation that may enable broadband response of metamaterials.