EurekAlert December 10, 2019
Researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated that the device they developed can rapidly switch functionality to perform the varied tasks needed to support a network with carrier frequencies of over 100 gigahertz. They developed a 3D-printed scaffold, which served as a negative of the desired network. A polymer was poured in and, once set, microcapillaries 0.3 millimeters in diameter were filled with plasma, metal or a dielectric gas. Using this replica-molding technique they perfected the dimensions and spacings of the microcapillaries in the lattice. They showed that rapid changes in the electromagnetic characteristics of these crystals — such as switching between reflecting or transmitting signals — could be achieved by simply turning on or off a few plasma columns. Such a capability shows the utility of such a dynamic and energy-efficient device for communications…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Dynamic plasma/metal/dielectric crystals can filter electromagnetic signals in the 100-300 GHz range, transmitting desired frequencies at any given moment of time. Credit: Image courtesy of the University of Illinois