Plasma Metamaterial for Vehicle Protection from Microwave Radiation

Metamaterials are materials composed of artificial sub-wavelength microstructures. Classic metamaterials are neither tunable nor reconfigurable, meaning their properties with respect to electromagnetic waves propagation are fixed once built. The ability to reconfigure metamaterial structure and hence tune their properties is desirable and has required elaborate designs.  In this project, the team of CFD Research Corporation and Tuft University propose to use plasma-based metamaterials for electromagnetic wave control for active protection of vehicle’s critical elements. Our novel material can manipulate the paths traversed by the microwaves. The predictive control of the plasma density allows controlling the reflection and refraction from plasma metamaterial.  The proposed material readily operates in the frequency range of 1-3 GHz, can absorb/reflect the microwave power greater than 100 W, and is easily scalable beyond 0.5×0.5 m2.  The advantages of plasma-based metamaterials are their fast turning on and off (on the nanosecond time scale), tunability and durability.  In this project, we will use both experimental research and numerical modeling and simulation to improve characteristics of our material.  These include the broadening of the microwave frequency range, increase of the absorbed wave power level, scalability, and the reduction of the energy cost.