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A dielectric resonator-based route to left-handed metamaterials

Article in Progress In Electromagnetics Research B · January 2009

DOI: 10.2528/PIERB09011103

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Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 133–150, 2009

A DIELECTRIC RESONATOR-BASED ROUTE TO LEFT-

HANDED METAMATERIALS

J. Wang, S. Qu, H. Ma, J. Hu, Y. Yang, and X. Wu

Air Force Engineering University
Xi’an, Shaanxi 710051, China

Z. Xu
Electronic Materials Research Laboratory
Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education
Xi’an Jiaotong University
Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, China

M. Hao
Northwest University
Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China

Abstract—In this paper, a new route for the realization of left-handed

metamaterials (LHMs) is suggested. It is based on commercially
available dielectric resonators with low loss and high temperature
stability. By etching simple metallic strips on surface of dielectric
resonators, the desired resonance modes can be enhanced while the
undesired suppressed. In this way, resonance frequency of desired
resonance modes can be tuned to the frequency range of interest.
As a typical example, a wide-angle polarization-independent planar
LHM based on disk-like dielectric resonators is proposed. Negative
permeability and permittivity are realized by etching metallic strips
along the electric field orientations of TE01δ and HEM11δ modes,
respectively.

Corresponding author: J. Wang ([email protected]).

134 Wang et al.

1. INTRODUCTION

Left-handed metamaterials (LHMs) with simultaneously negative

permeability and permittivity have been attracting great attentions
since the initiatory work of Pendry and Smith [1, 2]. Because of their
great potential applications in many fields, the development of new
kinds of LHMs has gained great impetus. A great variety of LHMs
have been designed and fabricated. Generally speaking, the existent
LHMs fall into three categories. LHMs in the first category realize
their negative permeability and/or permittivity by the resonances of
some certain metallic patterns etched on substrates. LHM unit cells,
like S-shaped [3], Ω-shaped [4], coplanar resonator unit cells [5], fall
into this category. For these LHMs, the magnetic fields are required to
thread through the metallic patterns in order to have a magnetically
driven resonance and hence a negative effective permeability. This
brings an annoying problem for these unit cells: incident waves must
be in parallel with substrates, which makes them quite troublesome to
be fabricated and used.
LHMs in the second category are called planar LHMs [6–12].
Unit cells of planar LHMs are usually such that identical metallic
patterns are etched on both sides of substrates. They realize negative
permeability by the coupling between the two identical metallic
patterns and negative permittivity by the interactions between two
neighboring metallic patterns on the same side of the substrates.
Although planar LHMs are also realized by using metallic patterns,
they are different from LHMs in the first category in that they allow
the incident waves to be perpendicular to substrates, so they are much
more convenient to be fabricated and used. Moreover, planar LHMs
can be made in the form of bulk materials.
Recently, many researchers are focusing on all-dielectric realiza-
tion of LHMs [13–19]. Many all-dielectric LHM unit cells, such as
spherical [13], cubic [14] and disk-like unit cells [15], were proposed.
These unit cells are based on different resonance modes in the unit
cells which behave like dielectric resonators (DRs). Under a certain
resonance mode, the effective permeability or/and permittivity are
negative. The key to realizing all-dielectric metamaterials is to get
the proper resonance modes. High-permittivity ceramics with good
temperature stability and low dielectric loss are required to realize
all-dielectric LHMs. However, to date, the loss tangent of most high-
permittivity dielectrics is quite high and their temperature stability is
not so good. In contrast, some DRs made of microwave ceramic mate-
rials, such as Ba2 Ti9 O20 , BaTi4 O9 , (Zr, Sn)TiO4 , mostly have low loss
tangents and good temperature stability. Moreover, they have high Q
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 135

factors. It comes to us naturally that these sophisticated microwave

DRs are ideal candidates for designing LHMs. However, a problem
arises. The dielectric constants of most sophisticated microwave ce-
ramic materials are between 30∼40, much less than some all-dielectric
unit cells require [17, 18]. For these DRs, their resonance frequencies
are usually so high that effective medium theory cannot be used to
characterize them. As a result, it is desirable to tune their resonance
frequencies down to lower frequencies that we are interested in.
In this paper, we proposed a new route to the realization of
LHMs based on commercially available DRs with low loss and good
temperature stability. By etching metallic strips on surface of DRs,
resonance frequencies of desired resonance modes can be tuned down
to the frequency range of interest. As an example, a planar LHM
based on disk-like DRs was presented. By etching metallic strips along
the electric field orientations of TE01δ and HEM11δ modes on two
separate DRs, negative permeability and permittivity were realized,
respectively. By combing the two DRs etched with metallic strips, a
planar LHM unit cell was realized. Because of the good symmetry of
the unit cell, the proposed planar LHM is polarization-independent.
Moreover, the negative refraction index band keeps almost the same
under a wide range of incident angles.

2. DESIGN

Figure 1 shows some commercially available microwave DRs.

Microwave DRs are often made of high-purity, high-density ceramics to
minimize loss. Traditionally, they are used to miniaturize microwave
circuits. Now, there have been a variety of shapes available for custom
application requirements. Of all these shapes, the disk-like DR shown

Figure 1. Some commercially available microwave dielectric

resonators.
136 Wang et al.

z
x
r=4.5mm
y
h=4mm

Figure 2. A disk-like microwave dielectric resonator.

in Figure 2 is the most typical. It is a TE mode resonator and is

traditionally used for stabilizing frequency in microwave oscillators. In
this paper, we take the disk-like DR shown in Figure 2 as a typical
example to illustrate the new route for designing DR-based LHMs.
The selected disk-like DRs are made of (Zr, Sn)TiO4 . The dielectric
constant is εr = 38. Radius and height of the DR are r = 4.5 mm
and h = 4 mm, respectively. For a bare DR shown in Figure 2, the
resonance frequency range is 5.87 ∼ 6.38 GHz. In this frequency range,
the wavelength λ is about 50 mm, about 5.5 times the diameter of
DR. To characterize the DR using the effective medium theory, the
wavelength must be more than 7 times the sizes of DRs. So, it is
necessary to tune the resonance frequency range down to lower ranges.

2.1. Design of the DR-based Negative-permeability

Metamaterials
The lowest resonance mode of disk-like DR is TE01δ mode. Figure 3(a)
shows the electric field distribution in (x, y) plane under TE01δ mode.
Metallic strips along the electric field orientation can change the
electric field distribution in (x, y) plane [20]. Since the metallic strips
form a circular ring, the electric field can drive a circular current in
the circular ring. The circular current will produce strong magnetic
fields threading through the metallic ring. Thus, a magnetically driven
resonance and hence a negative effective permeability can be realized.
Based on the above analysis, we designed the negative-
permeability unit cell based on disk-like DRs. Figure 4(a) shows the
negative-permeability unit cell. On the two end surfaces, two identical
copper rings are etched. The width and outer radius of the copper rings
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 137

are w = 1.0 mm and R = 2.5 mm. Figure 4(b) shows the magnetic
metamaterial using the negative-permeability unit cell. The distance
between each two unit cells is a = 10 mm.
By numerical simulations, we investigated a layer of magnetic

Metallic
Strip

Electric
Field

Dielectricc Resonator
Reson
(a) (b)

Figure 3. Schematic illustration of electric field distribution in the

(x, y) plane under TE01δ mode (a) and method of tuning down the
resonance frequency of TE01δ mode by etching metallic strips along
the electric field orientation.

E
a =10mm
R=2.5mm

w=1.0mm
k

H
(a) (b)

Figure 4. The negative-permeability unit cell (a) and one layer of

magnetic metamaterial which is one-unit-cell thick in the propagation
direction and infinite in two other directions (b).
138 Wang et al.

0
100
-10

Permeability ( µ )
50
S Paramete rs /dB

-20
0
-30

S11 -50
-40
S21 — Re (µ),-- Im( µ)
-50 -100
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency/GHz Frequencyy /GHz
(a) (b)

Figure 5. Transmission spectrum (a) and retrieved effective

permeability (b) for the one-unit-cell thick magnetic metamaterial
shown in Figure 4(b).

metamaterial which is one-unit-cell thick in the propagation direction

and infinite in two other directions. Computer simulations were
performed using the FDTD solver of CST Microwave Studio.
Polarizations of incident waves are shown in Figure 4(b). Incident
plane waves are incident normally onto the magnetic metamaterial
along the z axis direction of the disk-like DRs. Periodic boundary
conditions (PBCs) are imposed onto the unit cell in both x and y
direction to calculate the scattering parameters in the simulations.
The simulated transmission spectrum is shown in Figure 5(a). As
shown in Figure 5(a), there is a stop-band around 4.25 GHz, which
indicates a magnetic resonance. Effective constitutive parameters can
be retrieved from scattering parameters obtained by simulations or
experiments [21–23]. The retrieved effective permeability is shown in
Figure 5(b). There is an obvious magnetic resonance in Figure 5(b).
In the frequency range 4.15 ∼ 4.85 GHz, real part of the effective
permeability is negative.

2.2. Design of the DR-based Negative-permittivity

Metamaterials
The second lowest resonance mode of disk-like DR is HEM11δ mode.
Figure 6(a) shows the electric field distribution in (x, z) plane under
HEM11δ mode. To tune down the resonance frequency of HEM11δ
mode, two metallic strips perpendicular to each other can be etched
on surface of the DR, as shown in Figure 6(b). The two metallic
strips form two rectangular rings. On the two circular end faces,
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 139

the two metallic strips intersect with each other at the center of the
circle. In this way, the electric fields under HEM11δ mode are enclosed
by the rectangular metallic rings, as shown in Figure 6(b). Thus,
magnetic resonance in HEM11δ mode is suppressed while only the
electric resonance in HEM11δ mode is maintained and tuned down.
Based on the above analysis, the negative-permittivity unit cell
based on disk-like DRs is designed. Figure 7(a) shows the negative-
permittivity unit cell. Two identical perpendicular rectangular copper
rings are etched on surface of the DR. The width of the copper rings
is w = 1.0 mm. Figure 7(b) shows the electric metamaterial using the
negative-permittivity unit cell. The distance between each two unit
cells is a = 10 mm.
By numerical simulations, we investigated a layer of electric
metamaterial which is one-unit-cell thick in the propagation direction
and infinite in two other directions. Polarizations of incident waves
are shown in Figure 7(b). Incident plane waves are incident normally
onto the electric metamaterial along z direction. The simulated
transmission spectrum is shown in Figure 8(a). As shown in
Figure 8(a), there is a stop-band around 4.2 GHz, which indicates an
electric resonance. The retrieved effective permittivity is shown in
Figure 8(b). In Figure 8(b), there is an obvious electric resonance.
In the frequency range 4.12 ∼ 4.26 GHz, real part of the effective
permittivity is negative.

Metallic Strips

Electric Field Dielectric Resonator

(a) (b)

Figure 6. Electric field distribution in (x, z) plane under HEM11δ

mode (a) and method of tuning down the resonance frequency of
HEM11δ mode by etching metallic strips along the electric field
orientation. The two metallic strips are perpendicular to each other.
140 Wang et al.

2.3. Design of the DR-based Left-handed Metamaterials

By combining the negative-permeability and negative-permittivity unit
cells, a planar LHM is expected to be realized. Figure 9(a) shows the
proposed planar LHM. In the LHM, the the negative-permeability and
negative-permittivity unit cells are arranged alternatively both in x
and y directions. The distance between each two adjacent unit cells is
10 mm.
By numerical simulations, we investigated a layer of the LHM
which is one-unit-cell thick in the propagation direction and infinite in
x and y directions. Polarizations of incident plane waves are shown
in Figure 9(a). Plane waves are incident normally onto the LHM.
Figure 9(b) gives the magnitudes of simulated S11 and S21 parameter
in dB under normally incident plane waves. As shown in Figure 9(b),
there is no stop-band in the spectrum of the proposed LHM. In the
frequency range where originally there is a stop-band in both the
transmission spectra of the magnetic and electric metamaterials, the
transmission is quite high. This newly-emerging pass-band is the very
pass-band that is expected to be left-handed.
Effective constitutive parameters were retrieved from the
simulated scattering parameters. Figures 10(a), (b), (c) and (d)
show the retrieved effective permeability, permittivity, impedance and
refraction index under normal incidence. As shown in Figures 10(a)
and (b), the real part of effective permeability is negative in 4.19 ∼

a=10mm
w=1.0mm
E

H
(a) (b)

Figure 7. The negative-permittivity unit cell (a) and one layer of

electric metamaterial which is one-unit-cell thick in the propagation
direction and infinite in two other directions (b).
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 141

0 200
-5

Pe rm ittivity ( ε )
S Para me te rs /dB

-10
100

-15
0
-20

-25 -100
S11
-30 — Re (ε),-- Im(ε)
S21
-35 -200
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency/GHz Freq uency/ GHz
(a) (b)

Figure 8. Transmission spectrum (a) and retrieved effective

permittivity (b) for the one-unit-cell thick electric metamaterial shown
in Figure 7(b).

-10
S Paramete rs /dB

a=10mm
E -20

-30

-40 S11
k S21
-50
H 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency/GHz
(a) (b)

Figure 9. The proposed planar LHM and its transmission spectrum.

(a) A layer of the proposed LHM combining the negative-permeability
and negative-permittivity unit cells; (b) the transmission spectrum of
the planar LHM in Figure 9(a) under normally incident plane waves.

4.55 GHz while the real part of effective permittivity is negative in

4.19 ∼ 4.28 GHz. Compared with Figure 5(b) and Figure 8(b),
both the negative permeability and negative permittivity ranges shift
upwards slightly. This can be explained by the interactions between
the negative-permeability and negative-permittivity unit cells. In the
frequency range where real parts of both the effective permeability and
permittivity are negative, a left-handed band is expected. Figure 10(d)
142 Wang et al.

shows that in the frequency range 4.19 ∼ 4.28 GHz, the real part of
effective refraction index is negative. The frequency range 4.19 ∼
4.28 GHz is just the left-handed band we are trying to obtain.
50 20
Permeability ( µ)

25

Permittivity (ε )
0
0

-20
-25
— Re (µ),-- Im( µ) — Re (ε),-- Im( ε)
-50 -40
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4 .5 5
uency
Frequency/GHz Frequency/GHz
(a) (b)
4 0
Refraction Index (n)

2 10
Impe dance (Z)

0 0

-2 -10
—Re( Z),--Im( Z) — Re (n), -- Im(n)
-4 -20
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4 .5 5
Frequency/GHz
y Frequency/GHz
y
(c) (d)

Figure 10. Retrieved constitutive parameters from simulated

scattering parameters. (a) Retrieved effective permeability; (b)
retrieved effective permittivity; (c) retrieved relative impedance; (d)
retrieved refraction index.

3. POLARIZATION-INDEPENDENCE AND WIDE

RANGE OF INCIDENCE ANGLES

In Section 2, we just considered the DR-based LHM under normal

incidence with a particular polarization. In this section, left-handed
properties of the disk-like DR-based LHM under different polarizations
and different incidence angles were considered. Incident plane waves
with wave vector k can be characterized by two angles: the incidence
angle θ ∈ (0, π/2) between k and the surface normal n of the sample
(z direction), and the polarization angle ϕ ∈ (−π, π) between the
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 143

projection of k onto the surface plane and the metallic cross bar along
x direction of the unit cell, as shown in Figure 11.

z
k

θ
ϕ
x y

Figure 11. Incidence angle and polarization angle of incidence plane

waves with wave vector k.
There are two kinds of plane waves: TE and TM plane waves.
For normal incident plane waves, the two cases with TE and TM plane
waves are the same while for oblique incidences, the two cases are
different. When the incident plane waves are TE waves, the electric
vector E is in parallel with the sample and hence the incidence angle
θ is actually the angle between the magnetic vector H and surface
normal n of the sample (z direction). When the incident plane waves
are TM waves, the magnetic vector H is in parallel with the sample and
hence the incidence angle θ is actually the angle between the electric
vector E and surface normal n of the sample (z direction). Thus, we
have to consider two cases under oblique incidences, that is, the case
with obliquely incident TE plane waves and the case with obliquely
incident TM plane waves.

3.1. Left-handed Properties under Different Polarization

Angles
Left-handed properties of the disk-like DR-based LHM were
investigated under normal incidence with different polarization angles.
Under normal incidences, there is no need to consider respectively the
TE and TM case.
Figures 12(a), (b) and (c) show, respectively, the retrieved real
parts of effective permeability, permittivity and refraction index for
the one-unit-cell thick planar LHM in Figure 9(a) under different
polarization angles ϕ and normal incidence. Because of the four-
fold rotational symmetry of the negative-permittivity unit cell, it is
sufficient to consider ϕ ∈ (0, π/4) for different polarizations. As ϕ
144 Wang et al.

varies from 0 to π/4, both the effective permeability and permittivity

stay nearly the same. Both the strengths of magnetic and electric
resonances become slightly smaller with the polarization angle, but
the changes are so minor that they can be neglected. As can be shown
in Figures 12(a) and (b), the negative-permeability and negative-
permittivity ranges keep unchanged under different polarization angles.
Hence, the negative refraction index ranges keeps the same under
different polarization angles, as shown in Figure 12(c). Left-handed
properties of the planar LHM in Figure 9(a) are polarization-
independent.

50 20
ϕ =0°
40 ϕ =15° 10
ϕ =30°
Permeability (µ )

30 ϕ =45° Pe rmittivity (ε ) 0

20 -10

10 -20 ϕ =0°
ϕ =15°
0 -30 ϕ =30°
ϕ =45°
-10 -40
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 5
Fr equency/GHz
y/G Fr equency/GHz
u y/G
(a) (b)
20
ϕ =0°
ϕ =15°
Re fract ion Inde x (n )

10 ϕ =30°
ϕ =45°

-10

-20
3.5 4 4.5 5
Fr equency/GHz
G
(c)
Figure 12. Retrieved real parts of constitutive parameters under
different polarization angles ϕ = 0◦ , 15◦ , 30◦ and 45◦ . (a) Real parts
of effective permeability; (b) real parts of effective permittivity; (c)
real parts of effective refraction index.
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 145

3.2. Left-handed Properties under Oblique Incidence TE

Plane Waves
For oblique incidence TE plane waves, the electric vector is in parallel
with the planar LHM while the angle between the magnetic vector
and the LHM surface is the incident angle. In this part, left-handed
properties of the planar LHM under obliquely incident TE plane waves
with different incident angles were investigated.
Figures 13(a), (b) and (c) show, respectively, the retrieved real
parts of effective permeability, permittivity and refraction index for the
planar LHM in Figure 9(a) under different oblique incidence TE plane
waves with incidence angles θ = 0◦ , 15◦ , 30◦ , 45◦ and 60◦ . As shown

50 40
θ =0°
㩜
40 θ =15° 20 㩜 㩜 㩜
㩜 㩜
θ =30°
Pe rme abilit y (µ )

Permitti vity (ε )

30 θ =45° 0
㩜 θ =60°
20 -20 㩜
θ =0°
10 -40 θ =15°
㩜 㩜 θ =30°
㩜 㩜 㩜 㩜 㩜 㩜
0 㩜 -60 θ =45°
㩜 θ =60°
-10 -80
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency/GHz
y/ Fr equency/GHz
y/
(a) (b)
20
Refraction Index (n )

10 㩜
㩜 㩜
㩜
㩜 㩜
0 㩜
θ =0°
θ =15°
-10 θ =30°
θ =45°
㩜 θ =60°
-20
3.5 4 4.5 5
Fre quency/GHz
y/G
(c)
Figure 13. Retrieved real parts of constitutive parameters under
different obliquely incident TE plane waves with incidence angles θ =
0◦ , 15◦ , 30◦ , 45◦ and 60◦ . (a) Real parts of effective permeability; (b)
real parts of effective permittivity; (c) real parts of effective refraction
index.
146 Wang et al.

in Figures 13(a) and (b), the magnetic resonance becomes a bit weaker
while the electric resonance becomes a bit stronger as the incidence
angle increases. Since the effective refraction index is the square root of
the product of the effective permeability and permeability, the negative
index range keeps almost the same under different incidence angles,
as shown in Figure 13(c). Moreover, for there is a minor red-shift of
the negative-permeability range with the incidence angle, the negative-
index range shifts slightly downwards as the incidence angles increases.
But the shift is so minor that it can be neglected, so it is reasonable to
conclude that left-handed properties of the DR-based planar LHM are
approximately the same in the wide incidence angle range 0 < θ < 60
under obliquely incident TE plane waves.

10 0 20
㩜 θ =0°
80 θ =15° 10
θ =30° 㩜 㩜 㩜 㩜 㩜
㩜 㩜
Permeability ( µ )

Permittivity (ε )

60 θ =45° 0 㩜
㩜 㩜
㩜 θ =60°
40 -10
θ =0°
20 㩜
-20 θ =15°
㩜
㩜 㩜 㩜 θ =30°
0 㩜 㩜 㩜 -30 θ =45°
㩜 㩜 θ =60°
-20 -40
3.5 4 4.5 5 3.5 4 4.5 5
Fr equency/GHz
y/G y/G
Fr equency/GHz
(a) (b)

20
Refraction Index (n )

10 㩜
㩜
㩜 㩜
㩜 㩜
0 㩜 㩜 㩜
θ =0°
㩜
θ =15°
-10 θ =30°
θ =45°
㩜 θ =60°
-20
3.5 4 4.5 5
Fr equency/GHz
ue
(c)
Figure 14. Retrieved real parts of constitutive parameters under
different obliquely incident TM plane waves with incidence angles
θ = 0◦ , 15◦ , 30◦ , 45◦ and 60◦ . (a) Real parts of effective permeability;
(b) real parts of effective permittivity; (c) real parts of effective
refraction index.
Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 13, 2009 147

3.3. Left-handed Properties under Oblique Incidence TM

Plane Waves
For oblique incidence TM plane waves, the magnetic vector is in
parallel with the planar LHM while the angle between the electric
vector and the LHM surface is the incident angle. In this part, left-
handed properties of the planar LHM under obliquely incident TM
plane waves with different incident angles were investigated.
Figures 14(a), (b) and (c) show, respectively, the retrieved real
parts of effective permeability, permittivity and refraction index for
the planar LHM in Figure 9(a) under different oblique incidence TM
plane waves with incidence angles θ = 0◦ , 15◦ , 30◦ , 45◦ and 60◦ .
As shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), the magnetic resonance becomes
stronger while the electric resonance becomes weaker as the incidence
angle increases. The effective refraction index is the square root of the
product of the effective permeability and permeability, so the negative
index range keeps almost the same under different incidence angles,
as shown in Figure 14(c). Moreover, as shown in Figures 14(a) and
(b), there is a minor blue-shift of the negative-permeability range with
the incidence angle, so the negative-index range shifts slightly upwards
as the incidence angles increases, as shown in Figure 14(c). But the
shift is also so minor that it can be neglected, so it is reasonable to
conclude that left-handed properties of the DR-based planar LHM are
approximately the same in the wide incidence angle range 0 < θ < 60
under obliquely incident TM plane waves.
From the above analyses, we can conclude that the disk-like DR-
based LHM in Figure 9(a) is independent of polarizations of incident
waves and it keeps almost the same left-handed properties in a wide
incidence angle range 0< θ < 60.

4. CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, a new route for realizing LHMs was presented. It is

based on the use of dielectric resonators. Dielectric resonators can be
used to realize negative permeability and/or permittivity by etching
metallic strips on their surface. As a typical example, we proposed
a planar LHM based on disk-like dielectric resonators. By etching
metallic strips along the electric fields orientations under TE01δ and
HEM11δ modes, negative permeability and permittivity are realized,
respectively. The proposed planar LHM is independent of polarizations
of incident waves. Its left-handed properties keep the same under a
wide incident angle range. Since many kinds of dielectric resonator
with low loss and good temperature stability are available for practical
uses and moreover there are many resonance modes for a particular
148 Wang et al.

kind of dielectric resonator, a great many LHMs can be designed based

on dielectric resonators.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation

of China (Grant Nos. 50632030 and 60871027).

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