Efficient numerical analysis of 3D periodic metamaterials: Multilayer approach and eigenmode analysis

Modeling the electromagnetic behaviour of metamaterials is a challenge that is still being addressed. The computation of the propagative modes inside the materials is necessary to understand the way periodic structures interact with electromagnetic fields and to develop methods to characterize them. In this paper, we present a numerical method based on the PMCHWT formulation of the Method of Moments for the analysis of 3D metamaterials. Exploiting interstitial equivalent currents between different layers of the medium, it is possible to study its bulk properties simulating only one slab. Moreover, all the eigenmodes of the structure can be computed at once with a great accuracy.