MetaAIR: New Metamaterial film to protect pilots from laser strikes

Just came across this: Laser Focus World

I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are about this article.
They claim that they have produced a special film using metamaterials in order to prevent laser strikes affecting the pilots. This could be good news for our hobby.

If you want to find out more.
Here is the link from the makers of MetaAIR.
Metamaterial Technologies Inc.

haha basically laser safety glasses for the entire plane GENIUS, some guy is cashing in on that patent and it was just an idea, the technology already exists

Yes, exactly but even more advanced.

it's simple ideas like that which will make you a millionaire

I know, it is surprising how simple some ideas are. But more to the point, it could have serious benefits to the hobby. They probably will still stop people shining lasers at the aircraft, but at least all of this BS about pilot eye damage in the headlines will go away.

Good idea but I bet it is only good for a very narrow range of wavelength. I suppose they could build one for each of the popular laser pointer wavelengths. IF it is a filter, the only way I can imagine it would add no color to the window is if the wavelength it blocks is extremely narrow. Would it block a 520nm laser pointer? I suppose the argument is that only the DPSS lasers are a problem due to their lower divergence, and thus ability to put a higher concentration of energy on a target, but single mode laser diodes at any visible wavelength produce as much if not more power on target as a common cheap green DPSS laser. If this is a filter the window to market this product is probably fairly narrow, they better start making some money quick to pay for the R&D.

Maybe it is simply a partial mirror or some kind of special polarized material to reflect back a large portion of the energy, if so, that can be broadband and a good idea. Anyone know how this stuff works?

According to their fact sheet:

MTI Lamda Guard division develops
products that can selectively block
light of specific colors or wavelengths.
Its scientists have developed a new
product called metaAIR™ that can
protect pilots’ vision from harmful
laser strikes.

Click to expand...

metaAIR™ has been created from
polymer materials using nanopatterned
designs with features
as small as 5 nanometers that are
engineered to interact with incoming
light to block and deflect specific
colors or wavelengths. metaAIR™
offers best-in-class transparency,
superior angle performance and meets
aerospace environmental standards

Click to expand...

metaAIR™ is a flexible, paper-thin,
optical metamaterial filter engineered
to stop and deflect harmful laser
beams aimed at aircraft windscreens.
The laser beam is deflected off the
film before it reaches the inside of the
aircraft cockpit.

Click to expand...

They don't state what wavelengths are deflected, but we know so far that 529.5-534.5nm is one band. The others will probably include 440-450nm and 645-655nm. 405,465,520,589,635, with the exception of 405/635 are relatively new and uncommon threats. The good news about these wavelengths is that only true hobbyists usually own them, especially 589. Due to the low thickness, there is no reason why they can't produce a layered safety window.

On how it works:

Created from metamaterial polymer materials using lithographic and holographic nanopatterned designs with features as small as 5 nm, metaAIR materials can also incorporate silver nanoparticles, for example, to enhance plasmonic resonance and further control the electric and magnetic fields of a new structure. A multiphysics approach of patterning, stacking, and choosing the right background materials is used to create films in a scalable manufacturing process that deflect, block, enhance, or absorb electromagnetic radiation of a particular waveband. MTI's platform metamaterial technology can also be applied to protective eyewear, retractable visors, optical sensors, and even to enhance the accuracy of noninvasive medical devices at millimeter wavelengths.

Click to expand...

If they can do that and the window still appear transparent, they have some very good technology to make some money from and save both the laser hobbyist as well as the airline industry a lot of trouble.

Yes, the window still is transparent to all other wavelengths. Only narrow bands are blocked. It is good news. This could also be useful for laser goggles. I hate the tint on laser goggles, I want to be able to see the wavelength, but without the danger.

Not sure of it's normal light transmissivity..
But if good might be cheaper to put in on glasses
rather than all the cockpit windows...

Jerry

I think when they start implementing the technology, these questions will be asked. And the most economic option will be chosen.