초록 ▼

The present disclosure relates to forming a dispersion of metamaterial particles in an atmosphere. The metamaterial particles can be dispersed into the atmosphere, for example, from an aircraft or another type of platform, to form the dispersion. The resulting dispersion can interact with electromag

The present disclosure relates to forming a dispersion of metamaterial particles in an atmosphere. The metamaterial particles can be dispersed into the atmosphere, for example, from an aircraft or another type of platform, to form the dispersion. The resulting dispersion can interact with electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. The particles may strongly interact with both the magnetic and electric field components of the electromagnetic signals. In some implementations, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a frequency range. In some implementations, the dispersion modifies electromagnetic signals in a frequency range, for example, by applying a phase shift, a polarization shift, a frequency shift, or a reflection angle to the electromagnetic signals.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: identifying a plurality of metamaterial particles, each metamaterial particle interacts with an electric component and a magnetic component of electromagnetic signals to absorb the electromagnetic signals; anddispensing the plurality of metamaterial particles into a fluid med

1. A method comprising: identifying a plurality of metamaterial particles, each metamaterial particle interacts with an electric component and a magnetic component of electromagnetic signals to absorb the electromagnetic signals; anddispensing the plurality of metamaterial particles into a fluid medium in an atmosphere, the plurality of metamaterial particles being mobile within the fluid medium and forming a transient dispersion that absorbs electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 2. The method of claim 1, the metamaterial particles absorb electromagnetic signals having one or more frequencies in a frequency range ranging from radio frequencies to infrared frequencies. 3. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs infrared frequency electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 4. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs radio frequency electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 5. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs millimeter wave frequency electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 6. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs microwave frequency electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 7. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs ultraviolet frequency electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 8. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs visible frequency electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere. 9. The method of claim 1, identifying the plurality of metamaterial particles comprises identifying a container that contains the plurality of particles. 10. The method of claim 1, the atmosphere comprises a region in the Earth's atmosphere. 11. The method of claim 1, the atmosphere comprises a region of outer space outside the Earth's atmosphere. 12. The method of claim 1, the atmosphere comprises a region in a body of water. 13. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a particular frequency range associated with a telecommunication system. 14. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a particular frequency range associated with a global positioning system. 15. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a particular frequency range associated with a radar system. 16. The method of claim 1, the dispersion absorbs electromagnetic signals in a particular frequency range associated with blackbody thermal emissions. 17. The method of claim 1, each of the metamaterial particles comprises a layered structure that includes an electric layer and a magnetic layer, the electric layer interacts with the electric component of the electromagnetic signals, the magnetic layer interacts with the magnetic component of the electromagnetic signals. 18. The method of claim 17, the layered structure further comprising a dielectric layer between the electric layer and the magnetic layer. 19. The method of claim 1, each of the metamaterial particles comprises a layered structure that includes a balanced electric ring resonator structure. 20. The method of claim 1, each of the metamaterial particles comprises a concentric shell resonator structure. 21. The method of claim 20, the concentric shell resonator structure comprising an outer conductive shell, and an inner conductive shell within the outer conductive shell. 22. The method of claim 21, the concentric shell resonator structure further comprising: a dielectric layer between the inner conductive shell and the outer conductive shell; andan inner dielectric core within the inner conductive shell. 23. The method of claim 1, the metamaterial particles absorb electromagnetic signals having one or more frequencies in a frequency range ranging from radio frequencies to ultraviolet frequencies. 24. The method of claim 1, comprising using the transient dispersion of metamaterial particles as an electronic countermeasure against a threat. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid medium comprises a gaseous medium. 26. A method comprising: identifying a plurality of metamaterial particles, each metamaterial particle interacts with an electric component and a magnetic component of electromagnetic signals incident on the metamaterial particle to apply a predefined modification to the electromagnetic signals, the predefined modification comprising at least one of a predefined phase shift, a predefined frequency shift, a predefined polarization shift, or a reflection at a predefined angle; anddispensing the plurality of metamaterial particles into a fluid medium in an atmosphere, the plurality of metamaterial particles being mobile within the fluid medium and forming a transient dispersion in the atmosphere, the dispersion modifies one or more properties of incident electromagnetic signals in the atmosphere to generate output electromagnetic signals having the predefined modification. 27. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of radio frequency electromagnetic signals. 28. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of infrared frequency electromagnetic signals. 29. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of visible frequency electromagnetic signals. 30. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of ultraviolet frequency electromagnetic signals. 31. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of millimeter wave frequency electromagnetic signals. 32. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of electromagnetic signals in a frequency range associated with a telecommunication system. 33. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of electromagnetic signals in a frequency range associated with a global positioning system. 34. The method of claim 26, the dispersion modifies the one or more properties of electromagnetic signals in a frequency range associated with a radar defense system. 35. A system comprising: a carrier element including a plurality of metamaterial particles, each metamaterial particle includes: a magnetic element configured to interact with a magnetic component of an electromagnetic signal; andan electric element configured to interact with an electric component of the electromagnetic signal; anda dispenser that dispenses the metamaterial particles from the carrier element into a fluid medium in an atmosphere, the plurality of metamaterial particles being mobile within the fluid medium and forming a transient dispersion in the atmosphere. 36. The system of claim 35, the system comprising an aircraft that houses the carrier element and the dispenser, the dispenser dispenses the metamaterial particles into an airspace associated with the aircraft. 37. The system of claim 35, the system comprising a spacecraft that houses the carrier element and the dispenser, the dispenser dispenses the metamaterial particles into outer space. 38. The system of claim 35, the system comprising a marine vessel that houses the carrier element and the dispenser, the dispenser dispenses the metamaterial particles into a body of water associated with the marine vessel. 39. The system of claim 35, the system comprising a terrestrial installation that houses the carrier element and the dispenser, the dispenser dispenses the metamaterial particles into an airspace associated with the terrestrial installation. 40. The system of claim 35, the system comprising a grenade system that includes the carrier element and the dispenser. 41. The system of claim 35, each of the metamaterial particles has at least one of a negative electric permittivity, zero electric permittivity, negative magnetic permeability, or zero magnetic permeability. 42. The system of claim 35, each of the metamaterial particles has at least one of zero index of refraction or negative index of refraction. 43. The system of claim 35, each of the metamaterial particles includes at least one of a metallic inclusion, pyroelectric material, pyrophoric material, ferroelectric material, semiconductor material, a lanthanide series element, a quantum dot, an organic dye, a carbon nanotube, or a graphene sheet.