From rejection to transmission for a stack of arrayed split ring resonators

We report on free space transmission experiments carried out on stacked split ring resonator (SRRs) arrays operating at microwaves. We start from the case of a single frequency selective surface which exhibits a rejection at the SRR resonance frequency. By stacking several SRR arrays in the propagation direction, we then show experimentally the possibility to induce a transmission band just below this resonance frequency. The results are interpreted by means of a full wave analysis which points out the role played by the magneto inductive waves in the electromagnetic properties of such 2D ½ metamaterials with the appearance of a transmission band resulting from a magnetic activity. Potential interest of this type of microstructures derives from the possibility of tailoring the dispersion characteristics of the stacked arrays.