Optical and metamaterial devices based on reactive composite materials

Abstract

Devices and components that can interact with or modify propagation of electromagnetic waves are provided. The design, fabrication and structures of the devices exploit the properties of reactive composite materials (RCM) and reaction products thereof.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method, comprising:
 providing a plurality of RCM in or proximate to a region defining the metamaterial component; and   forming a particular arrangement of artificial structural elements by selectively reacting the RCM in or proximate to the region defining the metamaterial component, wherein the particular arrangement is selected to correspond to a particular set of metamaterial properties of the metamaterial component.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein forming a particular arrangement of artificial structural elements comprises forming an artificial structural element having a dimension that is less than a selected wavelength at which the region exhibits metamaterial properties. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the selected wavelength is a wavelength in the RF, MW, THz, IR, visible, or UV ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein forming a particular arrangement of artificial structural elements comprises forming adjoining structural elements having at least one different physical property. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the at least one different physical property is one of a permittivity, an index of refraction, an absorption coefficient, a conductivity, a magnetic susceptibility, a compositional property, a spectral property, a transmission property, or a reflection property. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein forming a particular arrangement of artificial structural elements comprises altering pre-existing artificial structural elements in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM in the region comprises applying an energy pulse to the RCM. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein applying an energy pulse comprises focusing energy to a selected depth in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises initiating a pressure-induced reaction in the RCM. 
     
     
         77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises changing a dielectric material into a metal and/or changing a metal into a dielectric material. 
     
     
         79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises changing a dielectric material into another dielectric material. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises generating exothermic heat to modify properties of portions adjoining the RCM in the region. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises changing dielectric properties of portions adjoining the RCM in the region. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises changing a volume occupied by the RCM. 
     
     
         84 . (canceled) 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein providing a plurality of RCM comprises providing at least one of Ba, carbon and its compounds, Ca, Ce, Cr, Co, Fe, Hf, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Si, Ta, Ti, Th, V, W, and Zr. Mo, Cu, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Ni, Pd, Rh, Ni. Zr, B, C, Si, Al, Fe203, CuzO, MoO3, FeCo, FeCoOx, a carbide, a nitride, monel, an alloy, a metallic glass, or a metal ceramic. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein providing a plurality of RCM comprises providing RCM in a multi-dimensional pattern in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein providing a plurality of RCM comprises providing multilayered RCM in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein providing multilayered RCM comprises providing reactive nanofoils in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A metamaterial component, comprising:
 a particular arrangement of artificial structural elements that provide metamaterial properties to the metamaterial component,   wherein the particular arrangement of artificial structural elements includes reaction product material resulting from selectively reacted RCM disposed in or proximate to a region defining the metamaterial component.   
     
     
         91 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the particular arrangement of artificial structural elements comprises an artificial structural element having a dimension that is less than a selected wavelength at which the component exhibits metamaterial properties. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the selected wavelength is a wavelength in the RF, MW, THz, IR, visible, or UV ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         93 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , further comprising unreacted RCM disposed in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         94 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein at least one physical property of the metamaterial element is a function of the reaction product material. 
     
     
         95 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein at least one of a permittivity, an index of refraction, an absorption coefficient, a conductivity, a magnetic susceptibility, a compositional property, a spectral property, a transmission property, or a reflection property of the metamaterial element is a function of the reaction product material. 
     
     
         96 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material alters pre-existing artificial structural elements in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         97 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material in an artificial structural element alters dielectric properties of an adjoining artificial structural element. 
     
     
         98 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein selectively reacting the RCM comprises changing a volume occupied by the RCM. 
     
     
         99 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material comprises a reaction product of reactive metals and/or metal oxides. 
     
     
         100 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material comprises a reaction product of a reaction with at least one of Ba, carbon and its compounds, Ca, Ce, Cr, Co, Fe, Hf, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Si, Ta, Ti, Th, V, W, and Zr. Mo, Cu, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Ni, Pd, Rh, Ni. Zr, B, C, Si, Al, Fe203, CuzO, MoO3, FeCo, FeCoOx, a carbide, a nitride, monel, an alloy, a metallic glass, or a metal ceramic. 
     
     
         101 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material comprises a reaction product of RCM disposed in a multi-dimensional pattern in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         102 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material comprises a reaction product of multilayered RCM disposed in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         103 . The metamaterial component of  claim 90 , wherein the reaction product material comprises a reaction product of reactive nanofoils disposed in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         104 . A customizable metamaterial component blank, comprising;
 a pattern of RCM disposed in or proximate to a region defining the metamaterial component blank,   wherein the pattern of RCM corresponds to one or more selectable metamaterial component configurations of artificial structural elements.   
     
     
         105 . The metamaterial component of  claim 104 , wherein the artificial structural elements include at least one element having a dimension that is less than a selected wavelength at which a selected metamaterial component configuration exhibits metamaterial properties. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the selected wavelength is a wavelength in the RF, MW, THz, IR, visible, or UV ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
     
     
         107 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM comprise reactive metals and/or metal oxides. 
     
     
         108 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM comprise at least one of Ba, carbon and its compounds, Ca, Ce, Cr, Co, Fe, Hf, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Si, Ta, Ti, Th, V, W, and Zr. Mo, Cu, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Ni, Pd, Rh, Ni. Zr, B, C, Si, Al, Fe203, CuzO, MoO3, FeCo, FeCoOx, a carbide, a nitride, monel, an alloy, a metallic glass, or a metal ceramic. 
     
     
         109 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM comprise RCM disposed in a multi-dimensional pattern in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         110 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM comprise multilayered RCM disposed in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         111 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM comprise reactive nanofoils disposed in the region defining the metamaterial component. 
     
     
         112 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein one or more of a permittivity, an index of refraction, an absorption coefficient, a conductivity, a magnetic susceptibility, a spectral property, a transmission property, or a reflection property of the region is responsive to a reaction of the RCM. 
     
     
         113 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein one or more of a shape, elasticity, density, crystallinity, and/or size of the component blank is responsive to a reaction of the RCM. 
     
     
         114 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein one or more of a RF, MW, THz, IR, visible, and/or UV property of the component blank is responsive to a reaction of the RCM. 
     
     
         115 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM are reactive in response to a spark or ignition pulse. 
     
     
         116 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM are reactive in response to an applied energy pulse. 
     
     
         117 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM are reactive in response to an energy pulse focused to a selected depth in the component blank. 
     
     
         118 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM are reactive in response to applied pressure. 
     
     
         119 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM are configured to sustain a self-propagating reaction. 
     
     
         120 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM change a dielectric material into a metal upon reaction. 
     
     
         121 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM change a metal into a dielectric material upon reaction. 
     
     
         122 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM change a dielectric material into another dielectric material upon reaction. 
     
     
         123 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM generate exothermic heat upon reaction to modify properties of portions adjoining the RCM in the region. 
     
     
         124 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM change a volume occupied by the RCM upon reaction. 
     
     
         125 . The component blank of  claim 104 , wherein the RCM change dielectric properties of portions adjoining the RCM upon reaction.