Metaconductor skins for low loss RF conductors
Various examples related to metaconductor based skins and transmission lines are provided. In one example, a flexible metaconductor skin includes a flexible substrate; at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal disposed on the flexible substrate; and a layer of ferromagnetic metal disposed on the at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal. The flexible metaconductor skin can be used as a multi-layer coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line.
1. A flexible metaconductor skin, comprising:
a flexible substrate;
at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal disposed on the flexible substrate; and
a layer of ferromagnetic metal disposed on the at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal, the layer of ferromagnetic metal consisting of cobalt (Co).
2. The metaconductor skin of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal consists of a single layer of non-ferromagnetic metal.
3. The metaconductor skin of claim 2 , wherein the single layer of non-ferromagnetic metal comprises copper (Cu), gold (Au), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al) or graphene.
4. The metaconductor skin of claim 2 , comprising a second single layer of the non-ferromagnetic metal disposed on the layer of the ferromagnetic metal, and a second layer of the ferromagnetic metal disposed on the second single layer of the non-ferromagnetic metal.
5. The metaconductor skin of claim 2 , comprising a plurality of alternating single layers of the non-ferromagnetic metal and layers of the ferromagnetic metal disposed on the layer of the ferromagnetic metal.
6. The metaconductor skin of claim 5 , comprising 10 layers of the non-ferromagnetic metal and 10 layers of the ferromagnetic metal.
7. A flexible metaconductor skin, comprising:
a flexible substrate;
at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal disposed on the flexible substrate; and
a layer of ferromagnetic metal disposed on the at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal;
where the metaconductor skin is wrapped around a core in a spiraling fashion with a first end of the metaconductor skin located adjacent to the core and overlapped by the metaconductor skin.
8. The metaconductor skin of claim 7 , wherein the layer of ferromagnetic metal consists essentially of cobalt (Co).
9. The metaconductor skin of claim 8 , wherein the flexible substrate of the metaconductor skin is adjacent to the core and overlaps the first end of the metaconductor skin.
10. The metaconductor skin of claim 8 , wherein the metaconductor skin wraps around the core a plurality of times.
11. The metaconductor skin of claim 10 , wherein the core has a non-circular cross-sectional shape.
12. The metaconductor skin of claim 11 , wherein the core comprises a planar surface extending along an axial length of the core.
13. The metaconductor skin of claim 8 , wherein the core is electrically conductive.
14. The metaconductor skin of claim 8 , wherein the core is electrically non-conductive.
15. A flexible metaconductor skin, comprising:
a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a ferromagnetic metal layer;
at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal disposed on the flexible substrate; and
a layer of ferromagnetic metal disposed on the at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal.
16. The metaconductor skin of claim 15 , wherein the at least one layer of non-ferromagnetic metal consists of a single layer of non-ferromagnetic metal.
17. The metaconductor skin of claim 16 , wherein the single layer of non-ferromagnetic metal comprises copper (Cu), gold (Au), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al) or graphene.
18. The metaconductor skin of claim 16 , comprising a plurality of alternating single layers of the non-ferromagnetic metal and layers of the ferromagnetic metal disposed on the layer of the ferromagnetic metal.
19. The metaconductor skin of claim 15 , wherein the metaconductor skin is wrapped around a core.
20. The metaconductor skin of claim 19 , wherein the flexible substrate of the metaconductor skin is adjacent to the core.