Multiscale design of large and irregular metamaterials

Abstract

Next-generation microwave communications systems face several challenges, particularly from congested communications frequencies and complex propagation environments. We present, and experimentally test, a framework based on the coupled-dipole approximation for designing structures composed of a single simple emitter with a passive disordered scattering structure of rods that is optimized to provide a desired radiation pattern. Our numerical method provides an efficient way to model, and then design and test, otherwise inaccessibly large scattering systems.