Design of metasurface structures compatible with multiple detection methods for stealth applications

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of multispectral detection technologies, achieving multiband-compatible stealth has emerged as a critical challenge. Conventional microwave-absorbing materials struggle to reconcile the conflicting requirements of low infrared emissivity and high visible-light transmittance, while existing metamaterial designs exhibit limitations in balancing cross-band absorption efficiency and bandwidth. This study proposes a cross-band stealth metasurface (CSM) based on a frequency selective surface (FSS), gradient impedance matching, and indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composite architecture. Innovatively introducing a structural co-optimization framework, we address multiband impedance mismatch through electromagnetic simulations, equivalent circuit models (ECM), and multiple interference theory (MIT), while implementing symmetric unit cell design to achieve polarization-insensitive characteristics with angular stability up to 35° Experimental results demonstrate that the CSM achieves over 90 % absorption in both microwave (44.8–56.9 GHz) and terahertz (1.65–2.39 THz) bands, while maintaining >85 % visible-light transmittance and low infrared emissivity (0.495), with significant radar cross-section (RCS) reduction (>10 dB). This design integrates optical transparency, infrared management, and electromagnetic adaptability, providing an innovative solution for next-generation multispectral-compatible stealth systems, with promising applications in military camouflage and intelligent optical devices.