Metamaterial absorber
Encyclopedia
A metamaterial absorber manipulates the loss components of the complex effective parameters, permittivity
and magnetic permeability of metamaterials, to create a material with particularly high absorption. Loss is noted in applications of negative refractive index (photonic metamaterials
, antenna systems metamaterials
) or transformation optics (metamaterial cloaking
, celestial mechanics), but is typically undesired in these applications.
Complex permittivity and permeability
are derived from metamaterials using the effective medium
approach. As effective media, metamaterials can be characterized with complex ε(w) = ε1 + iε2 for effective permittivity and µ(w) = µ1 + i µ2 for effective permeability. Complex values of permittivity and permeability typically correspond to attenuation in a medium. Most of the work in metamaterials is focused on the real parts of these parameters, which relate to wave propagation rather than attenuation. The loss (imaginary) components are small in comparison to the real parts and are often neglected in such cases.
However, the loss terms (ε2 and µ2) can also be engineered to create high attenuation and correspondingly large absorption. By independently manipulating resonances in ε and µ, it is possible to absorb both the incident electric and magnetic field. Additionally, a metamaterial can be impedance-matched to free space by engineering its permittivity and permeability, minimizing reflectivity. Thus, it becomes a highly capable absorber.
This approach can be used to create thin absorbers. Typical conventional absorbers are thick compared to wavelengths of interest, which is a problem in many applications. Since metamaterials are characterized based on their subwavelength nature, they can be used to create effective, thin absorbers. This is not limited to electromagnetic absorption, either.
Metamaterials scientists
Permittivity
In electromagnetism, absolute permittivity is the measure of the resistance that is encountered when forming an electric field in a medium. In other words, permittivity is a measure of how an electric field affects, and is affected by, a dielectric medium. The permittivity of a medium describes how...
and magnetic permeability of metamaterials, to create a material with particularly high absorption. Loss is noted in applications of negative refractive index (photonic metamaterials
Photonic metamaterials
Photonic metamaterials, also known as Optical metamaterials, are a type of electromagnetic metamaterial, which are designed to interact with optical frequencies which are terahertz , infrared , and eventually, visible wavelengths. As a type of metamaterial, the periodic structures are made up of...
, antenna systems metamaterials
Metamaterial antennas
Metamaterial antennas are a class of antennas which use metamaterials to increase performance of miniaturized antenna systems. Their purpose, as with any electromagnetic antenna, is to launch energy into free space...
) or transformation optics (metamaterial cloaking
Metamaterial cloaking
Metamaterial cloaking is the scientific application of metamaterials in order to achieve invisibility-cloaking. This is accomplished by manipulating the paths traversed by light through a novel optical material....
, celestial mechanics), but is typically undesired in these applications.
Complex permittivity and permeability
Complex number
A complex number is a number consisting of a real part and an imaginary part. Complex numbers extend the idea of the one-dimensional number line to the two-dimensional complex plane by using the number line for the real part and adding a vertical axis to plot the imaginary part...
are derived from metamaterials using the effective medium
Photonic metamaterials
Photonic metamaterials, also known as Optical metamaterials, are a type of electromagnetic metamaterial, which are designed to interact with optical frequencies which are terahertz , infrared , and eventually, visible wavelengths. As a type of metamaterial, the periodic structures are made up of...
approach. As effective media, metamaterials can be characterized with complex ε(w) = ε1 + iε2 for effective permittivity and µ(w) = µ1 + i µ2 for effective permeability. Complex values of permittivity and permeability typically correspond to attenuation in a medium. Most of the work in metamaterials is focused on the real parts of these parameters, which relate to wave propagation rather than attenuation. The loss (imaginary) components are small in comparison to the real parts and are often neglected in such cases.
However, the loss terms (ε2 and µ2) can also be engineered to create high attenuation and correspondingly large absorption. By independently manipulating resonances in ε and µ, it is possible to absorb both the incident electric and magnetic field. Additionally, a metamaterial can be impedance-matched to free space by engineering its permittivity and permeability, minimizing reflectivity. Thus, it becomes a highly capable absorber.
This approach can be used to create thin absorbers. Typical conventional absorbers are thick compared to wavelengths of interest, which is a problem in many applications. Since metamaterials are characterized based on their subwavelength nature, they can be used to create effective, thin absorbers. This is not limited to electromagnetic absorption, either.
See also
- Negative index metamaterialsNegative index metamaterialsNegative index metamaterials or negative index materials are artificial structures where the refractive index has a negative value over some frequency range. This does not occur in any known natural materials, and thus is only achievable with engineered structures known as metamaterials...
- History of metamaterialsHistory of metamaterialsHistory of metamaterials shares a common history with artificial dielectrics in microwave engineering, as it developed just after World War II. However, there are seminal explorations of artificial materials for manipulating electromagnetic waves at the end of the 19th century...
- Metamaterial cloakingMetamaterial cloakingMetamaterial cloaking is the scientific application of metamaterials in order to achieve invisibility-cloaking. This is accomplished by manipulating the paths traversed by light through a novel optical material....
- Photonic metamaterialsPhotonic metamaterialsPhotonic metamaterials, also known as Optical metamaterials, are a type of electromagnetic metamaterial, which are designed to interact with optical frequencies which are terahertz , infrared , and eventually, visible wavelengths. As a type of metamaterial, the periodic structures are made up of...
- MetamaterialMetamaterialMetamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties that may not be found in nature. Metamaterials usually gain their properties from structure rather than composition, using small inhomogeneities to create effective macroscopic behavior....
- Metamaterial antennasMetamaterial antennasMetamaterial antennas are a class of antennas which use metamaterials to increase performance of miniaturized antenna systems. Their purpose, as with any electromagnetic antenna, is to launch energy into free space...
- Nonlinear metamaterialsNonlinear metamaterialsA nonlinear metamaterial is an artificially constructed material that can exhibit properties not found in nature. Its response to electromagnetic radiation can be characterized by its permittivity and material permeability. The product of the permittivity and permeability results in the refractive...
- Photonic crystalPhotonic crystalPhotonic crystals are periodic optical nanostructures that are designed to affect the motion of photons in a similar way that periodicity of a semiconductor crystal affects the motion of electrons...
- Seismic metamaterialsSeismic metamaterialsSeismic metamaterials, are metamaterials which are designed to counteract the adverse effects of seismic waves on artificial structures, which exist on or near the surface of the earth...
- Split-ring resonator
- Acoustic metamaterialsAcoustic metamaterialsAcoustic metamaterials are artificially fabricated materials designed to control, direct, and manipulate sound in the form of sonic, infrasonic, or ultrasonic waves, as these might occur in gases, liquids, and solids. The hereditary line into acoustic metamaterials follows from theory and research...
- Metamaterial absorberMetamaterial absorberA metamaterial absorber manipulates the loss components of the complex effective parameters, permittivity and magnetic permeability of metamaterials, to create a material with particularly high absorption...
- Plasmonic metamaterialsPlasmonic metamaterialsPlasmonic metamaterials are negative index metamaterials that exploit surface plasmons, which are produced from the interaction of light with metal-dielectric materials. Under specific conditions, the incident light couples with the surface plasmons to create self-sustaining, propagating...
- SuperlensSuperlensA superlens, super lens or perfect lens is a lens which uses metamaterials to go beyond the diffraction limit. The diffraction limit is an inherent limitation in conventional optical devices or lenses. In 2000, a type of lens was proposed, consisting of a metamaterial that compensates for wave...
- Terahertz metamaterialsTerahertz metamaterialsTerahertz metamaterials are a new class of composite, artificial materials which interact at terahertz frequencies. The terahertz frequency range used in materials research is usually defined as 0.1 to 10 THz...
- Transformation opticsTransformation opticsTransformation optics represents an advancement in the design of optical devices. It is the basis for conceptualizing complex tools in the electromagnetic regime which allows for novel control of light, also known as electromagnetic waves. The mathematics underpinning transformation optics is...
- Theories of cloaking
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- Academic journals
- Metamaterials (journal)Metamaterials (journal)Metamaterials is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in March 2007. It is published by Elsevier in association with the Metamorphose Network of Excellence. The Coordinating Editor is Mikhail Lapine. The journal is published quarterly, with occasional special issues...
- Metamaterials (journal)
- Metamaterials books
- Metamaterials HandbookMetamaterials HandbookMetamaterials Handbook is a two-volume handbook on metamaterials edited by Filippo Capolino .The series is designed to cover all theory and application topics related to electromagnetic metamaterials. Disciplines have combined to study, and develop electromagnetic metamaterials...
- Metamaterials: Physics and Engineering ExplorationsMetamaterials: Physics and Engineering ExplorationsMetamaterials: Physics and Engineering Explorations is a book length introduction to the fundamental research and advancements in electromagnetic composite substances known as electromagnetic metamaterials. The discussion encompasses examination of the physics of metamaterial interactions, the...
- Metamaterials Handbook
- Academic journals
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Metamaterials scientists
- Richard W. ZiolkowskiRichard W. ZiolkowskiRichard W. Ziolkowski is a past president of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society , and a former vice president of this same society . In 2006 he was awarded OSA Fellow. He is also an IEEE Fellow....
- John PendryJohn PendrySir John Brian Pendry, FRS FInstP is an English theoretical physicist known for his research into refractive indexes and creation of the first practical "Invisibility Cloak"...
- David R. SmithDavid R. SmithDavid R. Smith is a renowned American physicist and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke University in North Carolina. Smith's research focuses on electromagnetic metamaterials, or materials with a negative index of refraction...
- Nader EnghetaNader EnghetaNader Engheta is an Iranian scientist and engineer. He has significantly contributed to novel artificial materials, photonics, nano-structured materials, novel graphene materials, and plasmonics....
- Ulf Leonhardt
- Vladimir ShalaevVladimir ShalaevVladimir M. Shalaev , the Robert and Anne Burnett Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, specializes in metamaterials, transformation optics, nanophotonics and plasmonics...