On anomalous absorption of electromagnetic radiationby a subwave metal wire

Background: The effect of anomalously strong absorption, scattering and attenuation of microwave electromagnetic radiation by thin conductive wires is considered. The investigated effect can be used in the development of radio-absorbing and radio-masking materials for various purposes. The aim of the work is to clarify the physical nature of the effect. Materials and methods:. On the basis of the generalized Lorentz-Mi theory the mathematical model of diffraction interaction of microwave radiation with a cylindrical object which material is characterized by a complex refractive index is constructed. The case of normal incidence of a plane electromagnetic wave of E- and H-polarizations on a cylinder is considered. Numerical calculations of the field distribution were performed in the MathCard environment. Results: It is shown that for thick cylinders with a diameter greater than the wavelength, characteristic resonant peaks of absorption and scattering of wave energy are observed. For very thin cylinders, the diameter of which is much smaller than the wavelength, there are maxima of absorption and scattering of energy of incident radiation, which cannot be explained by resonant phenomena. Simplified analytical expressions for the efficiency coefficients of attenuation, absorption and scattering of electromagnetic radiation by thin cylinders are obtained. The field distributions inside and outside the dielectric and metal cylinders at different ratios of their diameter and wavelength of incident radiation are calculated. The efficiency of radiation absorption by a thin wire at different ratios of its diameter and skin-layer thickness for wire material has been studied. Conclusion: It was found that the effect of abnormally strong absorption of microwave radiation by very thin metal wires is due to the existence of a skin effect for conductive materials that interact with microwave radiation. It is obtained that the maximum efficiency of radiation absorption is achieved when the diameter of the wire is twice less than the thickness of the skin layer. The observed effect of anomalous absorption is nonresonant.