Temporal Interfaces in Metamaterials with Shape-Varying Inclusions

Abstract

Temporal modulation of metamaterials is commonly achieved by varying constituent material properties, while changes in meta-atom geometry offer an additional means of controlling their effective response. Here, we develop an analytical and numerical framework for temporal scattering in metamaterials composed of cylindrical inclusions undergoing abrupt geometric transformations. Changing the radius of circular cylinders modifies the filling fraction and scalar in-plane effective permittivity, enabling temporal reflection, field amplification or attenuation, and frequency conversion. An area-preserving transformation from circular to elliptical cross sections introduces anisotropy, producing angle-dependent temporal scattering and redirecting the energy flow while conserving the wavevector. We derive these effects using effective-medium theory and temporal boundary conditions and compare the predictions with full-wave time-domain simulations. The simulations reproduce the main scattering and temporal-aiming trends, with larger angular deflections than predicted by the quasistatic model at higher permittivity contrasts. This suggests that moving toward the resonant regime may offer opportunities for stronger temporal aiming. These results identify inclusion geometry as a means of controlling wave amplitude, frequency, and energy-flow direction at temporal interfaces.