Infrared Metamaterials for Emission Phase Control

ABSTRACT: Under the first phase of the program, Plasmonics Inc. and Sandia National Laboratories investigated a range of surfaces that yield non-Lambertian emission profiles in the thermal infrared. The second phase of this program will further maturate the designs developed in the first phase of the program. With the vast majority of the analytical work complete, focus in the second phase will be placed on design fabrication and testing. It is strongly desirable to work with AFRL to target specific design metrics and platforms to focus on development of a practical prototype. The final goal for the second phase will be the deliverable of a directional emission surface for testing. BENEFIT: Thermal management remains a critical challenge for space, air, and terrestrial vehicles. The proposed technology provides a means to minimize surface emission as well as minimize surface loading from external thermal sources. A potential application for these surfaces includes mounting them on a satellite to maintain a high degree of thermal emissivity, but using their absorption directivity to selectively reject heat loading from the sun or earthshine.