Zero Permeability Materials (ZmuM): A way out of the "Left Handed Materials" trap

Abstract

Recently it has been shown that due to losses the claims on observation of negative refraction using metamaterials are questionable. In this paper we discus an interesting case that is based in almost zero permeability at a given frequency: zero permeability materials. This represents a way out of the problem of left handed materials, and constitutes a material that acts a band pass filter with a very narrow band. The metamaterials claimed to present negative refraction are just showing this effect. However, absorption can be diminished in those metamaterials by using thicker wires. Materials based in quasi metallic magnetic structures are proposed with ferromagnetic resonance at microwave frequencies under applied magnetic fields. These materials, as well as the zero permitivity in thin films, open a new ground for a new set of optical devices.