In this work we compare the performance of metamaterials based on layers of planar pair conductors with various shapes: dogbone with rectangular and triangular lattice, square loop and gangbuster. We first show the characteristics of transmission, reflection and absorption, and then we compare the absorption coefficient for the four considered structures. We inspect the dependence of the absorption coefficient on unit cell metal density in the case of triangular lattice dogbone pair and gangbuster pair. Last, we analyze the behavior of artificial magnetic conductors made by a single periodic layer of planar conductors above a grounded substrate. © 2011 IEEE.

The EUProMeta is an international distributed doctoral school that educates students at the Ph.D. level in all theoretical and experimental aspects of metamaterials. This contribution provides an overview to the activities of the school' its intention' its structure and the way individual school events are implemented. The article aimes to raise awareness that education of students is an essential ingredient of a research community that advances its research field as a whole. Doctoral schools are an excellent institution to set a base of shared knowledge in a community and to interlink the people that contribute most to the actual research performed in the field. © 2012 EUROPEAN MICROWAVE ASSOC.