Role of wave interaction of wires and split-ring resonators for the losses in a left-handed composite.

In this work the analytical model explaining the main reason of transmission losses in the known two-phase lattice of Smith, Schultz, and Shelby representing a uniaxial variant of left-handed medium (LHM) at microwaves is presented. The role of electromagnetic interaction between split-ring resonators (SRRs) and straight wires leading to the dramatic increase of ohmic losses in SRRs within the band when the meta-material becomes a LHM is clarified. This paper explains why in this structure, rather high transmission losses are observed in the experimental data, whereas these losses in a separate lattice of SRRs and in a lattice of wires are negligible at these frequencies.