An omnidirectional electromagnetic absorber made of metamaterials

作者：Cheng Qiang; Cui Tie Jun^*; Jiang Wei Xiang; Cai Ben Geng

来源：New Journal of Physics, 2010, 12(6): 063006.

DOI：10.1088/1367-2630/12/6/063006

• A-thermal
• Absorbing properties
• Absorption property
• Absorption rates
• All-optical
• Black body
• Black holes
• Electromagnetic absorbers
• Emitting sources
• Light absorbers
• Local control
• Metamaterial structures
• Nonresonant
• Numerical simulation
• Wave trapping

In a recent theoretical work by Narimanov and Kildishev (2009 Appl. Phys. Lett. 95 041106) an optical omnidirectional light absorber based on metamaterials was proposed, in which theoretical analysis and numerical simulations showed that all optical waves hitting the absorber are trapped and absorbed. Here we report the first experimental demonstration of an omnidirectional electromagnetic absorber in the microwave frequency. The proposed device is composed of non-resonant and resonant metamaterial structures, which can trap and absorb electromagnetic waves coming from all directions spirally inwards without any reflections due to the local control of electromagnetic fields. It is shown that the absorption rate can reach 99 per cent in the microwave frequency. The all-directional full absorption property makes the device behave like an ';electromagnetic black body';, and the wave trapping and absorbing properties simulate, to some extent, an ';electromagnetic black hole.'; We expect that such a device could be used as a thermal emitting source and to harvest electromagnetic waves.

• 出版日期2010-6-3
• 单位东南大学