Science and Applications of Metameterials to Interceptor Sensors

The proposed project will develop three actively configurable metamaterial of relevance to both i) MDA’s high-priority and near-term need for stray light testing and diagnosis and ii) the interceptor functions of THAAD, Ascent Phase Interceptors, MKV and Space Systems. Phoebus’s configurable metamaterials aperture arrays will consist of single-layer metallic thin films patterned with light-channeling subwavelength sized dielectric apertures. All structures will tap into the metamaterial phenomenon of anomalous optical transmission (AOT) through subwavelength sized apertures, that allow almost 100% of an incident beam to be transmitted through the structures. The apertures will be filled with electro-optical materials that exhibit tuning of their dielectric constants when a voltage is applied, hence tuning of the transmissive/reflectance properties as well. Two of the devices will be actively configurable apertures that will be will be integrated into the stray light detection system being developed by Phase I awardee, Opt-E. The third device is a light harvesting, tunable, wavelength selective transmitting/lensing metamaterial that can be switch between the transmission and lensing of MWIR and LWIR spectral bands. Phoebus has developed a realizable commercialization plan to exploit profitable markets for sensor systems, advanced optical components, polarimetric sensing and renewable energy devices using its patent-pending metamaterials.