Reverse design of metasurface enhanced human infrared absorption based on the extinction properties

The human infrared absorbers hold significant potential for applications in infrared fabric, sensors, and thermal camouflage. Herein, a reverse design approach for human infrared absorbers is proposed based on the extinction properties of metasurfaces. Unlike previous phenomenological theories, the extinction properties with numerical solutions provided a better frequency resolution for the specific physical landscape, enabling the modular modifications in the frequency and absorptance of metasurfaces. The design process of the metasurfaces could be simplified and experimentally verified, achieving an absorptance of 98% at 9.4 <i>μ</i>m with polarization independence and high directivity.