Traditional materials interact with electromagnetic waves according to their intrinsic properties, such as electrical permittivity and magnetic permeability. These properties determine how materials reflect, absorb, or transmit electromagnetic radiation. By contrast, metamaterials rely on engineered micro- or nano-scale architectures that can manipulate waves in an unnatural manner.1, 2
Metamaterials incorporate subwavelength structural elements, often referred to as meta-atoms, that are smaller than the wavelength of the waves they are designed to influence. Engineers arrange these structures in carefully designed patterns to create materials with effective electromagnetic properties that can be precisely controlled. As a result, metamaterials can exhibit unusual behaviors, such as wave bending, and electromagnetic cloaking. This structure-driven performance gives materials scientists the ability to develop stealth solutions tailored to specific detection systems.1, 2, 3
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