"Unveiling the Fundamental Limits of Electromagnetic Energy Absorption"

Electrical engineers at Duke University have determined the theoretical fundamental limit for how much electromagnetic energy a transparent material with a given thickness can absorb, which will aid in optimizing devices designed to block certain frequencies of radiation while allowing others to pass through for applications such as stealth or wireless communications. The research, published in Nanophotonics, provides a new mathematical approach to understanding the absorption of electromagnetic energy, with practical implications for various engineering applications, such as antenna design and sunscreen development.