Absorption of electromagnetic energy by a material is a phenomenon that underlies many applied problems, including molecular sensing, photocurrent generation and photodetection. Commonly, the incident energy is delivered to the system through a single channel, for example by a plane wave incident on one side of an absorber. However, absorption can be made much more efficient by exploiting wave interference. A coherent perfect absorber is a system in which complete absorption of electromagnetic radiation is achieved by controlling the interference of multiple incident waves. Here, we review recent advances in the design and applications of such devices. We present the theoretical principles underlying the phenomenon of coherent perfect absorption and give an overview of the photonic structures in which it can be realized, including planar and guided-mode structures, graphene-based systems, parity- and time-symmetric structures, 3D structures and quantum-mechanical systems. We then discuss possible applications of coherent perfect absorption in nanophotonics and, finally, we survey the perspectives for the future of this field.

Coherent perfect absorbers: linear control of light with light

The absorption of electromagnetic energy by a material is a phenomenon that underlies many applications, including molecular sensing, photocurrent generation and photodetection. Typically, the incident energy is delivered to the system through a single channel, for example, by a plane wave incident on one side of an absorber. However, absorption can be made much more efficient by exploiting wave interference. A coherent perfect absorber is a system in which the complete absorption of electromagnetic radiation is achieved by controlling the interference of multiple incident waves. Here, we review recent advances in the design and applications of such devices. We present the theoretical principles underlying the phenomenon of coherent perfect absorption and give an overview of the photonic structures in which it can be realized, including planar and guided-mode structures, graphene-based systems, parity-symmetric and time-symmetric structures, 3D structures and quantum-mechanical systems. We then discuss possible applications of coherent perfect absorption in nanophotonics, and, finally, we survey the perspectives for the future of this field.

Acoustics is a classical field of study that has witnessed tremendous developments over the past 25 years. Driven by the novel acoustic effects underpinned by phononic crystals with periodic modulation of elastic building blocks in wavelength scale and acoustic metamaterials with localized resonant units in subwavelength scale, researchers in diverse disciplines of physics, mathematics, and engineering have pushed the boundary of possibilities beyond those long held as unbreakable limits. More recently, structure designs guided by the physics of graphene and topological electronic states of matter have further broadened the whole field of acoustic metamaterials by phenomena that reproduce the quantum effects classically. Use of active energy-gain components, directed by the parity-time reversal symmetry principle, has led to some previously unexpected wave characteristics. It is the intention of this review to trace historically these exciting developments, substantiated by brief accounts of the salient milestones. The latter can include, but are not limited to, zero/negative refraction, subwavelength imaging, sound cloaking, total sound absorption, metasurface and phase engineering, Dirac physics and topology-inspired acoustic engineering, non-Hermitian parity-time synthetic active metamaterials, and one-way propagation of sound waves. These developments may underpin the next generation of acoustic materials and devices, and offer new methods for sound manipulation, leading to exciting applications in noise reduction, imaging, sensing and navigation, as well as communications.

Breaking the barriers: advances in acoustic functional materials

Non-Hermitian wave engineering is a recent and fast-moving field that examines both fundamental and application-oriented phenomena1–7. One such phenomenon is coherent perfect absorption8–11—an effect commonly referred to as ‘anti-lasing’ because it corresponds to the time-reversed process of coherent emission of radiation at the lasing threshold (where all radiation losses are exactly balanced by the optical gain). Coherent perfect absorbers (CPAs) have been experimentally realized in several setups10–18, with the notable exception of a CPA in a disordered medium (a medium without engineered structure). Such a ‘random CPA’ would be the time-reverse of a ‘random laser’19,20, in which light is resonantly enhanced by multiple scattering inside a disorder. Because of the complexity of this scattering process, the light field emitted by a random laser is also spatially complex and not focused like a regular laser beam. Realizing a random CPA (or ‘random anti-laser’) is therefore challenging because it requires the equivalent of time-reversing such a light field in all its degrees of freedom to create coherent radiation that is perfectly absorbed when impinging on a disordered medium. Here we use microwave technology to build a random anti-laser and demonstrate its ability to absorb suitably engineered incoming radiation fields with near-perfect efficiency. Because our approach to determining these field patterns is based solely on far-field measurements of the scattering properties of a disordered medium, it could be suitable for other applications in which waves need to be perfectly focused, routed or absorbed. Coherent perfect absorption in a disordered medium is demonstrated experimentally in the microwave regime through the realization of a random anti-laser that absorbs engineered radiation with near-perfect efficiency.

Random anti-lasing through coherent perfect absorption in a disordered medium

We present the mechanism for the asymmetric absorption of acoustic waves in a two-port transparent waveguide system by shunting detuned Helmholtz resonators (HRs) pairs in cascade. Theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental measurements verify that sound energy is almost totally absorbed (96.1%) at ∼373 Hz when sound waves are incident from one side while it is largely reflected back from the opposite side by judiciously designed HRs to provide manipulated surface impedance matching/mismatching to that of air at the opposite sides of the waveguide. Thus, asymmetric acoustic absorber is achieved at a low frequency. We have further demonstrated the flexibility of this methodology to get non-reciprocal absorption and reflectance in multiband and broadband. Our design advances the concept of asymmetric acoustic manipulation in passive two-port systems and may enable sound-absorbing devices for more versatile applications.

Asymmetric absorber with multiband and broadband for low-frequency sound

We report the experimental realization of acoustic coherent perfect absorption (CPA) of four symmetric scatterers of very different structures. The only conditions necessary for these scatterers to exhibit CPA are that both the reflection and transmission amplitudes of the scatterers are 0.5 under one incident wave, and there are two collinear and counter-propagating incident waves with appropriate relative amplitude and phase. Nearly 1000 times in the modulation of output power has been demonstrated by changing the relative phase of the incident waves over 180°. We further demonstrate that these scatterers could potentially be sensitive devices to detect the small differences between two nearly equal incident waves. A 27% change in the strength of the scattering wave has been demonstrated for every degree of phase deviation from the optimum condition between the incident waves.

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Acoustic Coherent Perfect Absorbers as Sensitive Null Detectors

We report the experimental realization of acoustic coherent perfect absorption (CPA) of four symmetric scatterers of very different structures. The only conditions necessary for these scatterers to exhibit CPA are that both the reflection and transmission amplitudes of the scatterers are 0.5 under one incident wave, and there are two collinear and counter-propagating incident waves with appropriate relative amplitude and phase. Nearly 1000 times in the modulation of output power has been demonstrated by changing the relative phase of the incident waves over 180°. We further demonstrate that these scatterers are sensitive devices to detect the small differences between two nearly equal incident waves. A 27 % change in the strength of the scattering wave has been demonstrated for every degree of phase deviation from the optimum condition between the incident waves.

Damping of low frequency vibration by lightweight and compact devices has been a serious challenge in various areas of engineering science. Here we report the experimental realization of a type of miniature low frequency vibration dampers based on decorated membrane resonators. At frequency around 150 Hz, two dampers, each with outer dimensions of 28 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height, and a total mass of 1.78 g which is less than 0.6% of the host structure (a nearly free-standing aluminum beam), can reduce its vibrational amplitude by a factor of 1400, or limit its maximum resonance quality factor to 18. Furthermore, the conceptual design of the dampers lays the foundation and demonstrates the potential of further miniaturization of low frequency dampers.

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Membrane-type resonator as an effective miniaturized tuned vibration mass damper

Sound attenuation is performed using a sound attenuation panel using an electromagnetic or electrostatic response unit to modify resonance. The sound attenuation panel has an acoustically transparent planar, rigid frame divided into a plurality of individual cells configured for attenuating sound. In one configuration, each cell has a weight fixed to the membrane. The planar geometry of each said individual cell, the flexibility of the membrane, and the weight establish a base resonant frequency for sound attenuation. The electromagnetic or electrostatic response unit is configured to modify the resonant frequency of the cell.

Active control of membrane-type acoustic metamaterial

We report the experimental demonstration of a voltage-tunable acoustic metasheet device with two highly asymmetric surfaces, made by combining two decorated membrane resonators (DMRs) separated by a sealed air column. The front surface of the metasheet is impedance matched to air and perfectly absorbing, while the back surface is hard and totally reflecting. When a suitable DC voltage is applied to the back side of the DMR via proper electrodes, the back surface of the metasheet can be tuned to impedance matched to air and perfectly absorbing, while the front surface is totally reflecting. The metasheet also exhibits high transmission contrast around two frequencies. The tunability of the reflection is over 23 dB at 388 Hz and that of the transmission is over 33 dB at 240 Hz and 590 Hz with 600 V of applied voltage.

Suet To Tang

Papers

Acoustic Coherent Perfect Absorbers as Sensitive Null Detectors

Acoustic Coherent Perfect Absorbers as Sensitive Null Detectors

Membrane-type resonator as an effective miniaturized tuned vibration mass damper

Active control of membrane-type acoustic metamaterial

Voltage-tunable acoustic metasheet with highly asymmetric surfaces