Multi-physics metasurface with reduced characteristic scales simultaneously for microwave, infrared, and acoustic compatibility

Devices supporting work in multi-physical environments present new challenges for material design. Due to the wavelength difference, waves from multi-field are difficult to modulate simultaneously, limiting the multi-field functions integration. Inspired by characteristic scale analysis, in this work, a devisable metasurface with characteristic scale compatibility is proposed. Under the reduced characteristic scale, waves in microwave, infrared, and acoustic fields can be modulated simultaneously, which can realize the multi-physics functions compatibility. In the microwave field, the far-field performance can be modulated by designing wavefront phase distribution. In the infrared field, the infrared radiation characteristic can be spatially modulated through noninvasive insetting of infrared devices in the microwave layer. In the acoustic field, the sound wave entering the metasurface can realize high-efficiency loss under the action of the Helmholtz cavity. To verify the design method, a functional sample is simulated and experimented. Three typical functions are effectively verified, which can realize 10 dB backward scattering reduction at 8–10 GHz, digital infrared camouflage with infrared emissivity modulation from 0.4 to 0.8 at 3–14 μm, and sound absorptivity of more than 60% at 160–410 Hz, respectively. The comparable characteristic scale design method paves a new way for individually devisable metasurfaces in multi-physical field integration.