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Metamaterials are laboratory-made materials that can bend electromagnetic waves unlike any other substance found in nature. On aspect of them is that such materials can bend beams of light in the opposite direction, a property known as negative index of refraction. As different types of metamaterials are created with the aid of computers to simulate and build the nanoscale structure, more applications of metamaterials are realized. They can be used to make miniaturized antennas and communications systems; precise imaging systems in manufacturing, defense, and medicine; as well as being used in military and space applications. Metamaterial cloaking has also been theorized to bend the light around an object to make it invisible.
The concept of these materials is based on electromagnetic waves being affected by interactions with atoms and molecules in nature. On a sub-microscopic scale, specific materials can be altered to affect the behavior of these waves until they act in a way they normally do not. Objects a fraction the size of a light wavelength have been created, making it possible to manipulate electromagnetic waves in a variety of applications. One of the applications of metamaterials is their use in antennas which can be etched onto circuit boards and take up very little space. Miniature devices that utilize antennas are therefore possible, as well as smaller circuits that control broadband frequencies and phase shifting in electronics.
Metamaterials can also be used in imaging systems that operate at resolutions greater than the limits of light wavelength size. The applications of metamaterials in these instances range from increasing the density of small electronic components to precise medical imaging systems as well as inspection devices for manufacturing. Meta-surfaces constructed of electromagnetic wave altering materials are organized so the small-scale geometry affects how the waves move. The substances that they are constructed with don’t have as much of an impact.
Antenna systems and communications electronics in satellites can incorporate metamaterials as well. The payload size is minimized, making it easier to launch a smaller satellite, and less expensive to design and build it. Applications of metamaterials also include smaller security equipment and devices used by the military. Scientists have even applied metamaterials to the theory of cloaking, or bending light so that an object becomes invisible. So far, as of 2011, engineers have been able to cloak one wavelength at a time, but have theorized on applications of metamaterials for improving the performance of wireless devices, memory storage, and optical lenses.
Katika EasyTechJunkie, tumejitolea kutoa habari sahihi, ya kuaminika. Maudhui yetu yaliyoandikwa na wataalamu ni ya kweli-kuchunguzwa kwa ukali na inatokana na mamlaka ya kuaminika. Gundua jinsi tunavyotegemeza viwango vya juu zaidi katika kukupa maarifa ya kuaminika. Metamaterials ni vifaa vilivyotengenezwa katika maabara vinavyoweza kupotosha mawimbi ya umeme tofauti na vitu vingine vinavyopatikana katika asili. "Kama vile, vifaa hivyo vinaweza kugeuza mwangaza wa mwanga kuelekea upande mwingine, jambo linaloitwa ""index negative of refraction.""" Kwa kuwa aina tofauti za metamaterials hutengenezwa kwa msaada wa kompyuta kuiga na kujenga muundo wa nanoscale, matumizi zaidi ya metamaterials yanatambuliwa. Vifaa hivyo vinaweza kutumiwa kutengeneza antena ndogo na mifumo ya mawasiliano; mifumo ya picha sahihi katika viwanda, ulinzi, na dawa; na pia hutumiwa katika matumizi ya kijeshi na ya angani. Pia kuna nadharia kwamba nyenzo za meta-nyenzo zinaweza kugeuza nuru kuzunguka kitu ili kiwe kisichoonekana. Dhana ya vifaa hivi inategemea mawimbi ya umeme kuathiriwa na mwingiliano na atomu na molekuli katika asili. Katika kiwango cha chini ya microscopic, vifaa maalum inaweza kubadilishwa kuathiri tabia ya mawimbi haya mpaka wao kutenda katika njia ambayo wao kawaida hawana. Vitu vyenye ukubwa wa sehemu ndogo ya urefu wa mawimbi ya nuru vimeundwa, na hivyo kufanya iwezekane kutumia mawimbi ya umeme katika matumizi mbalimbali. Matumizi ya metamaterials ni matumizi yao katika antennas ambayo inaweza etched juu ya bodi mzunguko na kuchukua nafasi kidogo sana. Kwa hiyo, vifaa vidogo vinavyotumia antena vinaweza kutengenezwa, na vilevile mifumo midogo inayoweza kudhibiti masafa ya bendi pana na mabadiliko ya awamu katika vifaa vya elektroniki. Metamaterials pia inaweza kutumika katika mifumo ya picha ambayo kufanya kazi katika azimio kubwa kuliko mipaka ya ukubwa wa mawimbi ya mwanga. Matumizi ya metamaterials katika kesi hizi huanzia kuongeza wiani wa vipengele vidogo vya elektroniki hadi mifumo sahihi ya picha ya matibabu na vifaa vya ukaguzi kwa utengenezaji. Meta-upande kujengwa ya umeme mawimbi kubadilisha vifaa ni kupangwa hivyo ndogo-scale jiometri huathiri jinsi mawimbi kusonga. Vitu ambavyo vimejengwa havina athari nyingi. Mifumo ya antenna na vifaa vya elektroniki vya mawasiliano katika satelaiti vinaweza pia kujumuisha metamaterials. Ukubwa wa mzigo ni chini, na kufanya hivyo rahisi kuzindua satellite ndogo, na gharama nafuu ya kubuni na kujenga. Maombi ya metamaterials pia ni pamoja na vifaa vidogo vya usalama na vifaa vinavyotumiwa na jeshi. Wanasayansi hata wametumia vifaa vya hali ya juu katika nadharia ya kuficha, au kupotosha nuru ili kitu kiwe kisichoonekana. Tangu mwaka 2011, wahandisi wamekuwa na uwezo wa kuficha urefu wa wimbi moja kwa wakati, lakini wamekuwa na nadharia juu ya matumizi ya metamaterials kwa kuboresha utendaji wa vifaa vya wireless, kuhifadhi kumbukumbu, na lensi za macho.