Microwave transmission through a two-dimensional, isotropic, left-handed metamaterial

We present experimental data, numerical simulations, and analytical transfer-matrix calculations for a two-dimensionally isotropic, left-handed metamaterial (LHM) at X-band microwave frequencies. A LHM is one that has a frequency band with simultaneously negative ${\epsilon }_{\mathrm{eff}}\mathrm{(\omega )}$ and ${\mu }_{\mathrm{eff}}\mathrm{(\omega ),}$ thereby having real values of index of refraction and wave vectors, and exhibiting extended wave propagation over that band. Our physical demonstration of a two-dimensional isotropic LHM will now permit experiments to verify some of the explicit predictions of reversed electromagnetic-wave properties including negative index of refraction as analyzed by Veselago [Usp. Fiz. Nauk 92, 517 (1964), Sov. Phys. Usp. 10, 509 (1968)].