A Review of Metamaterials Cloaking for Military and Civilian Use

Abstract

Metamaterials cloaking technology boasts a wide array of potential uses, spanning from military stealth applications to advancements in medical imaging. Metamaterials are specially engineered materials with unique characteristics absent in natural substances, such as negative refractive index, empowering them to manipulate electromagnetic waves in novel ways. The process of cloaking with metamaterials involves the bending of light or other electromagnetic waves around an object, effectively rendering it invisible or significantly reducing its detectability. This is accomplished through the intricate design of metamaterial structures capable of governing the flow of electromagnetic fields, diverting them away from the cloaked object. Among the most prominent applications of metamaterial cloaking is the development of invisibility cloaks. While primarily at the experimental stage, researchers have made substantial progress in crafting cloaking devices capable of concealing objects from specific wavelengths of light. These cloaks function by manipulating the path of light around an object, effectively creating the illusion of its absence. The potential applications of metamaterial cloaking encompass a broad spectrum, including invisibility, antennas and sensors, medical imaging, wireless communication, and stealth technology.