Magnetic monopole-like response in metamaterials

• Magnetic monopole-like response is achieved by metamaterial.
• Electric dipole response is always attached.
• Magnetic dipole response can also be produced.

In this paper, we explored magnetic monopole-like responses in metamaterials. We designed a sub-wavelength metamolecule that is composed of two dielectric-spaced split-ring resonators. In response to incident waves, the induced magnetic field in the metamolecule resembles that of a two-dimensional magnetic monopole. The magnetic monopole-like response is resulted from electric resonance of the metamolecule, so an electric dipole is always attached. By combining two mirror-symmetric metamolecules with inward and outward radial magnetic fields, magnetic dipole-like responses can be produced just as an electric dipole is formed by separating two opposite-signed electric charges.