Numerical and experimental investigation of subwavelength propagation of electromagnetic energy along a bare row of SRR inclusions

It is known that one of the possible interpretations of counter-intuitive subwavelength guiding of electromagnetic energy in a waveguide filled with SRR-like inclusions deals with the backward-wave propagation in continuous anisotropic MNG metamaterial. However, it has been also noted that the backward-wave propagation is possible along a bare SRR slab with the subwavelength thickness. Here, this phenomenon is investigated by two-dimensional scanning of the magnetic field in the vicinity of a bare chain of SRRs at the frequency of 450 MHz. The results of the measurements are compared with the results obtained with a full-wave simulation. Both experimental and numerical results show that is indeed possible to guide the electromagnetic energy in the form of slow backward surface waves that are tightly confined (within one tenth of the wavelength) to a chain of SRRs.