Efficient sensor could find use in airport-security technology

The researchers from Duke University are said to have fabricated a metamaterial that acts as a lens to image scenes using fewer components than conventional detectors.

Because of the properties of this man-made material, much of the additional equipment needed for conventional detector systems — such as lenses, mechanical positioners and data storage or transmissions devices — are not required.

The material itself is a thin laminate with rows of tiny squares etched onto copper, each one of which is tuned to a different frequency of light.

The material is flexible and durable enough to be attached to a wall, wrapped around corners or laid on the floor, making it an inexpensive alternative for a variety of sensing applications.

The new system works with microwave light and produces two-dimensional images. The researchers are currently exploring moving the technology to three-dimensional capability in real-world settings.

The Duke researchers reported their findings online on 18 January in the journal Science. The research was supported by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research.