Metamaterials as radiation shields (waves AND particles)?

[DeltaV]

Metamaterials are known to have wave shielding applications. Less well known is the possibility of particle shielding:

"Cloaking of Matter Waves"

http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0801/0801.2223.pdf

Quote:
"This work might be potentially important for the controlling of electrons in inhomogeneous crystal systems, cold atoms in an optical lattices, radiation shielding, particle beam steering."

Maybe lighter, more compact shielding?

[D Tibbets]

Metamaterials are known to have wave shielding applications. Less well known is the possibility of particle shielding:

"Cloaking of Matter Waves"

http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0801/0801.2223.pdf

Quote:
"This work might be potentially important for the controlling of electrons in inhomogeneous crystal systems, cold atoms in an optical lattices, radiation shielding, particle beam steering."

Maybe lighter, more compact shielding?

Metamaterials with negative indexes of refraction are certainly interesting and confounding. I think the term shielding might be misleading, cloaking or hiding might be a better term. The wave- light, electron or whatever might have wavelike properties, are bent (refracted) around an object, as opposed to reflecting (shielding) or absorbing the wave. As such, the metamaterial might protect the underlieing structure, but the wave would continue on to hit a more distant struture (except possibly in a space reactor without walls). This could perhaps serve to shift some of the thermal/ radiation loads to more distant and robust structures. It might even serve to protect a spaceship crew and payload from gamma radiation, x-rays, etc.
Then you would need to make this very wavelength dependant process work in this complex enviornment. And, just like glass with positive indexes of refraction, metamaterials are made up of mass and are probably not 100 % efficient- that is they absorb some of the energy and heat up. For instance, don't point a normal refacting telescope (without a Solar filter) at the Sun very long or you could crack the lenses.

Dan Tibbets

[DeltaV]

"Artificial magnetism and left-handed media from dielectric rings and rods"

http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/-ff30=al ... 2/2/025902

They are dealing with nanostructured metamaterials here, but there's something vaguely familiar about Figure 4...