Scientists finally find a practical use for metamaterials: boosting antenna performance (video)
Metamaterials can do all sorts of cool things in theory, like create invisibility cloaks or focus lasers. In practice, though, they're rather less useful. Or at least they were, before the team at Fractal Antenna figured out that a simple sleeve made out of fractal-based metamaterials triples the bandwidth of a simple monopole antenna and boosts its gain by 3dB. All you need to do is slip the fractal sleeve on and, hey presto, instant super antenna. You can see it demonstrated in the video after the break before reading all the nitty, gritty, infinitely-repeating details in the PR, which is down there too.
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Fractal Antenna Proves Value of Metamaterials
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite promises of amazing features, metamaterials have failed to demonstrate practical applications. Now researchers at Fractal Antenna Systems have delivered on that promise, showcasing a new video that reveals metamaterials are a valuable application resource, whose advantage is dramatically enhanced using geometric shapes called fractals.
"Some people need to be convinced that metamaterials and fractals are useful tools in the electronic toolbox. We feel the same way, and are happy to oblige with this educational video. It makes an overwhelming case for the fractal advantage, in this case with a specific and fascinating metamaterial application."
Metamaterials are composites with unique electromagnetic attributes. Fractals are structures built up from repeated sizings of a simple shape to make a complex one. Fractals are used to make partless, shrunken resonators, also called tuned circuits, that are densely and closely packed as a metamaterial, wound as cylinders in this example, then placed on top of a conventional antenna for dramatic performance enhancements.
The new video (http://fractenna.com/whats/whats.html), shows how the fractal metamaterials improve a monopole or 'vertical' antenna. With careful scientific protocols and controls, scientists at Fractal Antenna Systems demonstrate how a fractal metamaterial sleeve, with no power or electrical connection to the actual antenna, dramatically increases the bandwidth and gain. The firm's CEO Nathan Cohen notes: "Some people need to be convinced that metamaterials and fractals are useful tools in the electronic toolbox. We feel the same way, and are happy to oblige with this educational video. It makes an overwhelming case for the fractal advantage, in this case with a specific and fascinating metamaterial application."
Conservatively describing the bandwidth improvement as tripled, the actual bandwidth increases from 120 MHz to a new value 1500 MHz, just by slipping the fractal metamaterial sleeve over the monopole. Cohen added: "Physicists and engineers define bandwidth in different ways, either through a standing wave ratio or a half power point. We think folks should look for themselves, as any way you define it, it is startling and dramatic."
The gain of the antenna also undergoes improvement, more than doubling value. Cohen also notes that this is an expected and well understood result. Cohen concluded: "What is exciting for us is that fractals enable this technology, and as the inventors and patent holders, we are the innovators bringing it to our products and designs, and are happy to show this example to help others understand the benefits."
ABOUT FRACTAL ANTENNA SYSTEMS, INC.
Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. (www.fractenna.com) supplies products for the world's most demanding wireless, and electromagnetic applications. Backed by over three dozen U.S., and international patents, plus dozens of patents pending, Fractal Antenna Systems is the recognized pioneer in fractal technology, with extensive research and field experience over 15 years in business. The company is a privately held and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
