  We study both theoretically and experimentally the transmission properties of
a lattice of split ring resonators (SRRs) for different electromagnetic (EM)
field polarizations and propagation directions. We find unexpectedly that the
incident electric field E couples to the magnetic resonance of the SRR when the
EM waves propagate perpendicular to the SRR plane and the incident E is
parallel to the gap-bearing sides of the SRR. This is manifested by a dip in
the transmission spectrum. A simple analytic model is introduced to explain
this interesting behavior.
