Multifunctional Metamaterial Laser Energy Control

Oxford Defense North Carolina, LLC (ODNC) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) will collaborate to develop a beam control metamaterial surface in this Phase II STTR effort. A concern with laser beamed energy systems is the inadvertent exposure of operators and bystanders to inadvertently scattered or reflected laser energy. In an Energy Web, multiple transmitters and receivers will be mounted on mobile land and airborne platforms, thus unexpected vehicle dynamics may cause beam misalignment and exposure of personnel from energy by reflection from adjacent structures or glint. A solution may be to cover adjacent structures with an absorptive or scattering coating, i.e., black and white paint. However, this would present a large static visual signature, and could not protect canopies or windows. Instead, we are developing a conformal beam control metamaterial. Metamaterials are engineered sub-wavelength periodic structures with tailored electromagnetic properties. The metamaterial will scatter or absorb (as designed) laser energy in a narrow band while presenting a minimal visual and infrared signature at other wavelengths. Using metamaterial theory and techniques developed in academic research, the metamaterial will be able to sustain high laser intensities without damage, and will be able to be economically fabricated over large areas. The system is completely passive with zero reaction time, yielding a significant size, weight, power, and cost benefit over active sensing. In the Phase I effort, small metamaterial test coupons were designed, fabricated, and characterized. The Phase II effort will optimize the design and fabrication of these metamaterial surfaces and expand production to large areas, showing maturity for an Energy Web demonstration.