Design and solution-based testing of a synthetic aerosol particle with asymmetric scattering behavior

We have modeled, synthesized, and performed preliminary testing of a synthetic aerosol particle with the intent to affect an asymmetric (“one-way”) vision environment when deployed as an airborne plume and aligned in real time via an applied acoustic field. The first aerosol particle iteration under test, the microclub, features asymmetry in particle geometry and material composition to cause asymmetric scattering behavior, dependent on the propagation direction of incident mid-infrared light. Despite this asymmetric scattering behavior, the microclub has been shown to maintain electromagnetic reciprocity in computational simulations, exhibiting a consistent extinction cross section with respect to forward and backward propagation directions of incident light. We expect this asymmetric scattering behavior will ultimately cause vision asymmetry when deployed as an airborne plume incorporated into an imaging path. Before proceeding to in-air testing of the microclub, we have performed an intermediate investigation of the microclub while suspended in a solution of water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to test both the particle’s rotation response to an applied acoustic field and the particle rotation’s impact on optical transmission. Here we present the results of this preliminary investigation and we discuss the impact on visibility and next steps.