3D-FDTD-PML analysis of left-handed metamaterials

The increasing interest in negative-index metamaterials requires a formulation capable of a full analysis of wave propagation in such materials. Since two-dimensional (2D) problems have been largely explored In the literature, the natural step is a three-dimensional (3D) formulation of a metamaterial. In this work, we present a simulation of a left-handed metamaterial using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in conjunction with perfectly matched layers (PMLs). First, we develop a PML to work with a Drude medium model. Then we apply our formulation to a 3D domain and compare our results with 2D problems. Finally, we simulate a dipole on the top of a metamaterial slab, presenting the field distribution in three different directions.