Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.

2a

Frequency Selective Surface, Complementary Split

Ring Resonator

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 5.2a.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
 Introduction
Frequency selective surfaces (FSS) are periodic structures with a bandpass or a bandstop
frequency response. This example shows that only signals around the center frequency can
pass through the periodic complementary split ring resonator layer.
Perfectly matched layers

Source port
Virtual infinite array

2 mm PTFE substrate
Split ring slot
Thin copper layer

Listener port
Unit cell with
periodic conditions

Perfectly matched layers

Figure 1: One unit cell of the complementary split ring resonator is modeled with periodic
boundary conditions to simulate an infinite 2D array. Perfectly matched layers at the top and
bottom of the unit cell absorb the excited and higher order modes.

Model Definition
A split ring slot is patterned on a geometrically thin copper layer that sits on a 2 mm PTFE
substrate (Figure 1). The copper layer is much thicker than the skin depth in the simulated
frequency range, so it is modeled as a perfect electric conductor (PEC). The rest of the
simulation domain is filled with air.

Floquet-periodic boundary conditions are used on four sides of the unit cell to simulate
the infinite 2D array. Perfectly matched layers (PMLs) on the top and bottom of the unit
cell absorb the excited mode from the source port and any higher order modes generated
by the periodic structure. The PMLs attenuate the wave as it propagates in the direction
perpendicular to the PML boundary. Since the model is solved for a range of incident

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angles, the wavelength in the PMLs is set to 2/|k0cos|. This accounts for the angular
dependence of the normal component of the wave vector inside the PMLs.

Port boundary conditions are placed on the interior boundaries of the PMLs, adjacent to
the air domains. The Port boundary conditions automatically determine the reflection and
transmission characteristics in terms of S-parameters. The interior port boundaries with
PML backing require the slit condition. The port orientation is specified to define the
inward direction for the S-parameter calculation. Since higher order diffraction modes are
not of particular interest in this example, the combination of Domain-backed type slit port
and PMLs is used instead of adding a Diffraction order port for each diffraction order and
polarization.

The periodic boundary condition requires identical surface meshes on paired boundaries.
This is accomplished in two steps: first by creating a mesh on only one of the boundaries
and then using the Copy Face operation for the mesh on the other boundary. This mesh
configuration is automatically set when using the physics-controlled mesh as shown in the
step-by-step instructions. If you are interested in seeing more details about the mesh, build
the physics-controlled mesh once and then change the mesh sequence type to the
user-controlled mesh in the mesh settings. Then you can inspect the generated mesh
sequence.

Results and Discussion

The modified multislice default plot (Figure 2) shows the electric field norm on the
complimentary split ring resonator. Strong fields are observed inside the slot. The
S-parameter plot in Figure 3 shows that this periodic structure functions as a bandpass
filter near 4.6 GHz. In Figure 4, the S-parameters appear as a function of incident angle
and show that the periodic structure is penetrable at 4.6 GHz over the simulated range,
except for grazing angles.

The resonance frequency of this periodic structure can be quickly evaluated as 4.59 GHz
using an Eigenfrequency study, which is not included in this example.

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Figure 2: The fields are confined in the split ring slot.

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Figure 3: The S-parameter plot shows a bandpass resonance near 4.6 GHz

Figure 4: The S-parameter plot is shown as a function of incident angle.

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Application Library path: RF_Module/Passive_Devices/
frequency_selective_surface_csrr

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 3D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Radio Frequency>Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain (emw).
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select Preset Studies>Frequency Domain.
6 Click Done.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters
1 On the Home toolbar, click Parameters.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Value Description

theta 0[deg] 0 rad Elevation angle
f0 5.3[GHz] 5.3E9 Hz Frequency
lda0 c_const/f0 0.05656 m Wavelength, free space

GEOMETRY 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Geometry 1.
2 In the Settings window for Geometry, locate the Units section.

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3 From the Length unit list, choose mm.

Block 1 (blk1)
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type 15.
4 In the Depth text field, type 15.
5 In the Height text field, type 45.
6 Locate the Position section. From the Base list, choose Center.
7 Right-click Block 1 (blk1) and choose Build Selected.
8 Click the Wireframe Rendering button on the Graphics toolbar.

Work Plane 1 (wp1)

On the Geometry toolbar, click Work Plane.

Circle 1 (c1)
1 On the Work Plane toolbar, click Primitives and choose Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type 5.
4 Right-click Circle 1 (c1) and choose Build Selected.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

Circle 2 (c2)
1 On the Work Plane toolbar, click Primitives and choose Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type 3.5.

Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 On the Work Plane toolbar, click Primitives and choose Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type 4.
4 Locate the Position section. From the Base list, choose Center.
5 In the xw text field, type 4.

Difference 1 (dif1)
1 On the Work Plane toolbar, click Booleans and Partitions and choose Difference.
2 Select the object c1 only.

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3 In the Settings window for Difference, locate the Difference section.
4 Find the Objects to subtract subsection. Select the Active toggle button.
5 Click the Select Box button on the Graphics toolbar.
6 Select the objects r1 and c2 only.
7 Right-click Difference 1 (dif1) and choose Build Selected.
8 In the Model Builder window, click Geometry 1.

Block 2 (blk2)
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type 15.
4 In the Depth text field, type 15.
5 In the Height text field, type 2.
6 Locate the Position section. From the Base list, choose Center.
7 In the z text field, type -1.

Block 3 (blk3)
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type 15.
4 In the Depth text field, type 15.
5 In the Height text field, type 80.
6 Locate the Position section. From the Base list, choose Center.
7 Click Build All Objects.

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8 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

E LE C TRO MA G NE TI C WAVES , FRE QU E N C Y D OM A IN ( EM W )

Set up the physics. First, define physics-controlled mesh maximum element size. Use
Floquet-periodic conditions on all side boundaries.

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain (emw).
2 In the Settings window for Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain, locate the
Physics-Controlled Mesh section.
3 Select the Enable check box.
Set the maximum mesh size to 0.2 wavelengths or smaller.
4 In the Maximum element size in free space text field, type lda0/10.

Perfect Electric Conductor 2

1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Perfect Electric Conductor.
2 Select Boundary 12 only.

Periodic Condition 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Periodic Condition.

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2 Select Boundaries 4, 7, 10, and 2426 only.

3 In the Settings window for Periodic Condition, locate the Periodicity Settings section.
4 From the Type of periodicity list, choose Floquet periodicity.
5 From the k-vector for Floquet periodicity list, choose From periodic port.

Periodic Condition 2
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Periodic Condition.

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2 Select Boundaries 1, 13, 23, and 27 only.

3 In the Settings window for Periodic Condition, locate the Periodicity Settings section.
4 From the Type of periodicity list, choose Floquet periodicity.
5 From the k-vector for Floquet periodicity list, choose From periodic port.

Periodic Condition 3
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Periodic Condition.

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2 Select Boundaries 5, 8, 11, and 1820 only.

3 In the Settings window for Periodic Condition, locate the Periodicity Settings section.
4 From the Type of periodicity list, choose Floquet periodicity.
5 From the k-vector for Floquet periodicity list, choose From periodic port.

Periodic Condition 4
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Periodic Condition.

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2 Select Boundaries 2, 14, 17, and 21 only.

3 In the Settings window for Periodic Condition, locate the Periodicity Settings section.
4 From the Type of periodicity list, choose Floquet periodicity.
5 From the k-vector for Floquet periodicity list, choose From periodic port.
The wave is excited from the port on the top.

Port 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Port.
2 Select Boundary 15 only.
3 In the Settings window for Port, locate the Port Properties section.
4 From the Type of port list, choose Periodic.
5 From the Wave excitation at this port list, choose On.
6 Select the Activate slit condition on interior port check box.
7 From the Slit type list, choose Domain-backed.
8 From the Port orientation list, choose Reverse.
9 Locate the Port Mode Settings section. From the Input quantity list, choose Magnetic field.
10 Specify the H0 vector as

0 x

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1 y
0 z
11 In the 1 text field, type theta.
12 In the fmax text field, type 5.4[GHz].
The maximum frequency here will be used only when Compute Diffraction Order
button is clicked to generate Diffraction Order features handling higher order mode
individually. In this model, PML absorbs all higher order modes, so this setting is
ineffective.

Port 2
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Port.
2 Select Boundary 6 only.
3 In the Settings window for Port, locate the Port Properties section.
4 From the Type of port list, choose Periodic.
5 Select the Activate slit condition on interior port check box.
6 From the Slit type list, choose Domain-backed.
7 From the Port orientation list, choose Reverse.
8 Locate the Port Mode Settings section. From the Input quantity list, choose Magnetic field.
9 Specify the H0 vector as

0 x
1 y
0 z

10 In the 1 text field, type theta.

11 In the fmax text field, type 5.4[GHz].

Scattering Boundary Condition 1

1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Scattering Boundary Condition.
2 Select Boundary 3 only.

DEFINITIONS

Perfectly Matched Layer 1 (pml1)

1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Perfectly Matched Layer.
2 Select Domain 5 only.

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3 In the Settings window for Perfectly Matched Layer, locate the Scaling section.
4 From the Typical wavelength from list, choose User defined.
5 In the Typical wavelength text field, type 2*pi/abs(emw.k0*cos(theta)).

Perfectly Matched Layer 2 (pml2)

1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Perfectly Matched Layer.
2 Select Domain 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Perfectly Matched Layer, locate the Scaling section.
4 From the Typical wavelength from list, choose User defined.
5 In the Typical wavelength text field, type 2*pi/abs(emw.k0*cos(theta)).

ADD MATERIAL
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Material to open the Add Material window.
2 Go to the Add Material window.
3 In the tree, select Built-In>Air.
4 Click Add to Component in the window toolbar.

MATERIALS
On the Home toolbar, click Add Material to close the Add Material window.

Material 2 (mat2)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.

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2 Select Domain 3 only.

3 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Name Value Unit Property

group
Relative permittivity epsilonr 2.1 1 Basic
Relative permeability mur 1 1 Basic
Electrical conductivity sigma 0 S/m Basic

MESH 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Mesh 1.
2 In the Settings window for Mesh, click Build All.
3 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
4 Locate the Mesh Settings section. From the Element size list, choose Extra fine.
5 Click Build All.

DEFINITIONS

Hide for Physics 1

1 On the View 1 toolbar, click Hide for Physics.

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2 In the Settings window for Hide for Physics, locate the Geometric Entity Selection
section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundaries 10, 11, 13, and 14 only.

MESH 1
In the Model Builder window, click Mesh 1.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Frequency Domain

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Frequency Domain.
2 In the Settings window for Frequency Domain, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Frequencies text field, type range(3.8[GHz],0.1[GHz],5.4[GHz]).
4 On the Home toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Electric Field (emw)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Electric Field (emw).
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, locate the Data section.

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3 From the Parameter value (freq (Hz)) list, choose 4.6E9.

Multislice
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Electric Field (emw) node, then click Multislice.
2 In the Settings window for Multislice, locate the Multiplane Data section.
3 Find the x-planes subsection. In the Planes text field, type 0.
4 Find the y-planes subsection. In the Planes text field, type 0.
5 Find the z-planes subsection. From the Entry method list, choose Coordinates.
6 In the Coordinates text field, type -1.
7 On the Electric Field (emw) toolbar, click Plot.
8 Click the Zoom In button on the Graphics toolbar.
9 Click the Zoom In button on the Graphics toolbar.

This reproduces Figure 2.

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S-Parameter (emw)

Smith Plot (emw)

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Identify the resonant frequency of the periodic structure from the S-parameter plot
Figure 3.

Next, evaluate the reflectivity and transmittivity performance of the model with different
incident angles.

ADD STUDY
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Study to open the Add Study window.
2 Go to the Add Study window.

STUDY 1
1 Find the Studies subsection. In the Select Study tree, select Preset Studies>Frequency
Domain.
2 Click Add Study in the window toolbar.
If you want to clear the Add Study window after adding, click Add Study again on the
Home toolbar.

ROOT
On the Home toolbar, click Add Study to close the Add Study window.

STUDY 2

Parametric Sweep
1 On the Study toolbar, click Parametric Sweep.
2 In the Settings window for Parametric Sweep, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Add.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:

Parameter name Parameter value list Parameter unit

theta range(0[deg],5[deg],85[deg])

Step 1: Frequency Domain

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 2 click Step 1: Frequency Domain.
2 In the Settings window for Frequency Domain, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Frequencies text field, type 4.6[GHz].
4 On the Study toolbar, click Compute.

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RESULTS

Multislice
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Electric Field (emw) 1 node, then click
Multislice.
2 In the Settings window for Multislice, locate the Multiplane Data section.
3 Find the x-planes subsection. In the Planes text field, type 0.
4 Find the y-planes subsection. In the Planes text field, type 0.
5 Find the z-planes subsection. From the Entry method list, choose Coordinates.
6 In the Coordinates text field, type -1.
7 On the Electric Field (emw) 1 toolbar, click Plot.
Add a 1D plot.

1D Plot Group 5
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Study 2/Solution 2 (sol2).

Global 1
1 On the 1D Plot Group 5 toolbar, click Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, click Add Expression in the upper-right corner of the
y-axis data section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain>Ports>S-parameter, dB>emw.S11dB - S-parameter, dB, 11 component.
3 Click Add Expression in the upper-right corner of the y-axis data section. From the
menu, choose Component 1>Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain>Ports>
S-parameter, dB>emw.S21dB - S-parameter, dB, 21 component.

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4 On the 1D Plot Group 5 toolbar, click Plot.

This is the S-parameter plot as a function of incident angle shown in Figure 4.

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