Printed NRI metamaterial based on broad-side-coupled SRRs and a thinned array of strips

An entirely printed NRI metamaterial based upon arrays of split-ring-resonators (SRRs) and strip conductors is proposed. Unlike other SRR / strip conductor based NRI metamaterials, the density of the strips is considerably less than that of the SRRs. This thinned array of strips, along with the use of broad-side coupled SRRs permits operation at low microwave frequencies without lumped inductors. The calculated, simulated and experimental results, for an NRI metamaterial, operating at 3 GHz, and mounted in a waveguide test fixture, demonstrates the feasibility of this approach.