Title:  Ultrasenstive Microwave Planar Metamaterial Sensors for Materials Characterization

Committee: 

Dr. Tentzeris, Advisor   

Dr. Durgin, Chair

Dr. Peterson

Abstract:

The objective of the proposed research is to design low power, miniaturized and ultrasensitive microwave planar metamaterial sensors, evaluate their performance then utilize them for bulk materials’ constitutive parameters extraction and other practical applications with a narrower scope such as nondestructive and microfluidic sensing. Also, the research aims to introduce, model and verify a condition of sensitivity uniformity for permittivity and permeability sensors. The research starts by revisiting the operational theory of CSRR based sensors to identify the influential factors that govern their performance. Then, the identified factors are going to be utilized to come up with sensing platforms with significantly improved and controlled sensitivity. As proof of concepts, the proposed platforms are going to be fabricated, tested and utilized for practical applications such as nondestructive and microfluidic sensing.