THIN FILM EMITTER-ABSORBER APPARATUS AND METHODS

摘要

Methods and apparatus for providing a tunable absorption-emission band in awavelength selective device are disclosed.A device for selectively absorbing incident electromagnetic radiation includesan electrically conductive surface layer includingan arrangement of multiple surface elements. The surface layer is disposed ata nonzero height above a continuous electricallyconductive layer. An electrically isolating intermediate layer defines a firstsurface that is in communication with the electricallyconductive surface layer. The continuous electrically conductive backing layeris provided in communiication with a second surfaceof the electrically isolating intermediate layer. When combined with aninfrared source, the wavelength selective device emitsinfrared radiation in at least one narrow band determined by a resonance ofthe device. In some embodiments, the device includesa control feature that allows the resonance to be selectively modified. Thedevice has broad applications including gas detectiondevices and infrared imaging.