Extinction properties of a sphere with negative permittivity and permeability

Extinction spectra of spheres made of materials having dispersive permittivity and permeability are calculated. A dispersion in the microwave region, similar to that which has recently been achieved in artificial composite media is assumed. When either the permittivity or the permeability (but not both) is negative, there occurs a band of strong surface polariton absorption. However, when both quantities are negative, a band of highly suppressed extinction appears in the spectrum. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.