Advanced inverse design of thermal infrared stealth micro-nanostructures utilizing a hybrid metaheuristic integrating simulated annealing and genetic algorithm

This study develops an optimization algorithm that combines simulated annealing and genetic algorithms to perform the inverse design of multi-spectral thermal stealth metamaterial structures to address the challenges of broadband thermal stealth across multiple wavelength bands. Compared to similar research outcomes, our algorithm-optimized structure is relatively simple and easy to fabricate. The designed structure offers a trifunctional capability within the infrared spectrum: it achieves low emissivity at the atmospheric window bands (3-5 µm and 8-14 µm) with emissivity values of ε=0.41 and ε=0.31, respectively. Furthermore, it exhibits high absorptivity at common laser detection wavelengths of 1.06 µm and 10.6 µm, reaching 70% and 95%, respectively. These characteristics effectively enable both infrared and laser stealth functionalities. Additionally, the structure is engineered to have a high emissivity of ε=0.76 in the non-atmospheric window band (5-8 µm), facilitating heat dissipation through radiative processes, thereby achieving effective thermal management. This hybrid method shows great potential in the design of effective thermal stealth function, and the designed metamaterial structures show promising applications in military camouflage, enhancing the thermal stealth capabilities of aircraft and camouflage uniforms.