Resonant Transmission of Electromagnetic Fields through Subwavelength Zero-$\hat{I}\mu$ Slits

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a metal plate with a zero-$\hat{I}\mu$ metamaterial slit, where the permittivity tends towards zero over a given bandwidth. Our analytic results demonstrate that the transmission coefficient can be substantial for a broad range of slit geometries, including subwavelength widths that are many wavelengths long. This novel resonant effect has features quite unlike the Fabry-Pérot-like resonances that have been observed in conductors with deep channels. We further reveal that these high impedance ultranarrow zero-$\hat{I}\mu$ channels can have significantly {\it greater} transmission compared to slits with no wave impedance difference across them.