Simulation of tunable metamaterial with nematic liquid crystal layers

Authors analyze response of tunable liquid crystal metamaterial transducer in microwave frequency range. Tunability of scattering parameters is achieving by reorientation of liquid crystal molecules. Metamaterial (MTM) structure is based on Ω-shape resonators. A full-wave analysis technique based on the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) was performed using QuickWave 3D electromagnetic solver. Microwave transmission properties of the metamaterial structure can be controlled by director of liquid crystal layer. Effective refractive index for operation frequency varies from negative to positive values.