Periodic Metallo-Dielectric Structures: Electromagnetic Absorption and its Related Developed Temperatures

• Main Authors: Jean Paul Walker, Venkataraman Swaminathan, Aisha S. Haynes, Haim Grebel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-06-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: metallo-dielectric structures; electromagnetic filters; electromagnetic absorption; radiation trapping; temperature rise
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/12/13/2108

Multi-layer, metallo-dielectric structures (screens) have long been employed as electromagnetic band filters, either in transmission or in reflection modes. Here we study the radiation energy not transmitted or reflected by these structures (trapped radiation, which is denoted—absorption). The trapped radiation leads to hot surfaces. In these bi-layer screens, the top (front) screen is made of metallic hole-array and the bottom (back) screen is made of metallic disk-array. The gap between them is filled with an array of dielectric spheres. The spheres are embedded in a dielectric host material, which is made of either a heat-insulating (air, polyimide) or heat-conducting (MgO) layer. Electromagnetic intensity trapping of 97% is obtained when a 0.15 micron gap is filled with MgO and Si spheres, which are treated as pure dielectrics (namely, with no added absorption loss). Envisioned applications are anti-fogging surfaces, electromagnetic shields, and energy harvesting structures.