Design, Simulation, and Fabrication of High-Performance Metamaterial Absorber for EMI Mitigation and THz NDT/Imaging Applications: A Shape-Preserved GHz-to-THz Transition Approach

Abstract

A metamaterial absorber (MMA) designed for the 5G FR2/mmWave bands (24.25–24.45 and 24.75–25.25 GHz) is simulated with CST Studio Suite and fabricated using laser and wet etching techniques. Absorption measurements are performed using horn antennas in conjunction with a vector network analyzer (VNA). The absorber achieves >95.8% absorption under normal incidence for Mode-1, while it exceeds 90% for Mode-2 in the 24.75–25.20 GHz. The simulation results are validated through an electrical equivalent circuit model and experimental data. This absorber presents a promising solution for electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction and shielding applications. The same structure, scaled from mm to µm without shape alteration, achieved over 90% absorption in the terahertz (THz) region (24–26 THz), particularly in the 24–25.12 THz range. The THz region, known as the “THz gap”, presents challenges due to limited THz sources and detectors. However, technologies such as THz non-destructive testing (NDT) offer potential in biomedical, communication, and defense applications. From this perspective, the high performance and scalability to µm dimensions without changing the shape of the absorber make it suitable for high-frequency EM shielding applications. This dual behavior in the GHz and THz regions offers a versatile advantage due to its varied functionality.