From Photonic Crystals to Seismic Metamaterials: A Review via Phononic Crystals and Acoustic Metamaterials

The advancement in electromagnetic metamaterials, which commenced three decades ago, experienced a rapid transformation into acoustic and elastic systems in the forms of phononic crystals and acoustic/elastic metamaterials. Since its early discovery, numerous wave phenomena alongside the possible engineering applications have been highlighted. The existing and emerging fields of metamaterials are far more extensive, ranging from optics to acoustic, and all the way to the elastic systems. Numerous fantastic dynamic properties in optics and acoustic/elastic systems have been reported to date, which cannot be found in naturally occurring materials. The present review tends to discuss the historical context, current progresses and possible future outcomes of metamaterials. The fascinating phenomena observed in optics/electromagnetic metamaterials have been explained and linked with acoustic and elastic counterparts. The idea of perfect lens that is governed by negative permittivity and negative permeability via left-handed materials with negative refractive index properties and the transformation optics for invisibility cloaks and optical rainbow effect alongside the hyperbolic metamaterials are reviewed and discussed. Furthermore, the associated transformation into acoustic and elastic focusing effects via graded index metamaterials, acoustic/elastic invisibility cloaks, transformational acoustics, and seismology and metawedges resembling optical rainbow effects and the likes are explained. The present state of the art has been examined and the physics involved in the governing of those peculiar wave mechanisms has been highlighted. Starting from photonic crystals, phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials, the present state of the art research in some subfields of acoustic metamaterials has been outlined, such as metasurfaces, topological phononic crystals and seismic metamaterials, the three exciting and emerging research topics. The substantial challenges involved in these realms are characterised and the possible future outcome is further evaluated. This review article may assist researchers and engineers to grasp the idea of metamaterials in not only photonic and phononic crystal systems, but also the counterpart subfields.

Automated summary

The study and development of metamaterials in electromagnetic, acoustic, and elastic systems have shown extensive applications, including peculiar wave phenomena in optics, acoustics, and elastic systems. Emerging fields such as metasurfaces, topological phononic crystals, and seismic metamaterials have also attracted significant attention.