USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

William F Smith

Kevin A Boulais

Simin Feng

Karen J Long

Walter D Sessions

Pearl Rayms-Keller

Robert B Nichols

Michael S Lowry

An optically tunable metamaterial unit cell is provided for photonic switching. The cell is optically tunable and includes a dielectric substrate with upper and lower surfaces. The cell further includes arrays of metamaterial elements and a layer of photo-capacitive material. The arrays are disposed the upper surface of the dielectric substrate. The metamaterial is capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation. The layer of photo-capacitive material overlaps the arrays of metamaterial elements. The photo-capacitive material is optically tunable.

Optically controlled reflect phased array based on photosensitive reactive elements

A control device is provided for photonic switching. The device includes an optically tunable metamaterial unit cell. This structure includes a dielectric substrate; at least two arrays of metamaterial elements located on the top surface thereof, the metamaterial being capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation, and a layer of photo-capacitive material overlapping the at least two arrays of metamaterial elements, the photo-capacitance of the photo-capacitive material being optically tunable; and a reflectarray or phased array system containing the unit cell.

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King George, VA, United States of America

William F Smith