Broadband negative-index surface-waves on arrays of capped helices

A novel metasurface comprised of capped helices arranged as a hexagonal array that supports a broadband near-isotropic negative-index microwave surface-wave is designed, manufactured, and experimentally characterized. The surface-mode dispersion is studied both numerically and experimentally with the operational band more than double the bandwidth of structures previously reported in the literature. Hence, it is shown how one may provide a structured surface that supports just a negative-index mode over a wide operational band with no forward wave being simultaneously excited.